Culture
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PATHWAYS OF OUR HERITAGEGERMAN CULTURE, up close! This what we shared in 2011.With a theme like - Pathways of Our Heritage - it is only fitting that we provide a "Road Map of Germany" displaying where each of our participating clubs once hailed. You'll be able to learn, discover or recall all of the States of Germany along with each State's Wappen. Flags & Wappen will be on display...Passport Maps are available in the Culture Tent, south end of the Fest Grounds near the Marcus Amphitheater & info booths. Use these Maps to follow the pathways taken by Germans who eventually arrived in America. Collect the stickers and receive a prize! A feature of the Cultural Village is the Deutsche Auswandererhaus, Bremerhaven or the German Emigration Center, Bremerhaven. This is Europe’s largest theme museum regarding emigration and honored in 2007 as the "European Museum of the Year". On display are authentic emigrant biographies from 1830-1974. Each tells a story of the over 7 Million emigrants who left for a new start via Bremerhaven. This exhibition is an interactive experience of what some of our forefathers encountered on their journey to America. At the museum, visitors can search international data banks for ancestors such as, Ancestry.de, Ancestry.com, Bremer Passenger Lists, Ellis Island Passenger Lists + the Castle Garden Lists. Stop by the Culture Area and with the luck of the... Germans you may win a trip to the Museum in Bremerhaven, Germany! The trip is to be raffled off by Bremerhaven und Non-Stop Travel, your travel specialists from the USA to Germany. CHILDREN'S PARADEThe Children's Parade, features dance, youth groups, as well as Kinder Gruppe (children’s groups) +… bubbles? This event starts at 3pm on Sunday in Pretzel Park and weaves its way through the Festival grounds. RETURN OF THE MUSIKGARTEN STAGEThis intimate venue is found inside the Culture Tent - filled with music, fun + knowledge. See the likes of:
2011 TRACHTENSCHAUEach year, the German Fest Trachtenschau presents authentic ethnic clothing and folk traditions from the German-speaking regions of Europe. In fact, Karin Gottier, renowned historian, author, speaker and authority of Trachtenschau will display in the Culture Area. Karin's extensive displays come to us from her own personal collection which is the largest accumulation of German Trachtenschau clothing in the USA. In addition to a number of local participants, the Trachtenschau often feature guest groups from Texas and Illinois. The "STV Almrausch" Bavarian Verein of Dallas, Texas wear Trachten from the Allgäu region of Southern Bavaria. The "Egerländer Tanz Gruppe" of Chicago, Illinois display Trachten from the Sudetenland. AUTHENTIC MASK CARVERBryan T. Berenson is a wood and stone sculptor from Austria. After his 5 year apprenticeship, he passed his exam, certifying him as a wood and stone sculptor. This certification is honored throughout Europe. We’re honored to have him as part of German Fest. Brian has brought his craft to Hartland, WI where he resides and is a part of one of German Fest's member clubs; the Muller Fashing Verein. All the performers in the Muller Fashing Verein wear hand-carved wooden masks. Many hand carved masks worn by performers are carved by Brian. In addition, each performer has their own styled costume featuring embroidered pants, lederhosen and colored burlap. Back to the masks, each mask takes an average of 6 hours to carve and paint. Masks that are more intricate take significantly more time to carve. Bryan carves items including masks at his display in the Cultural Village at German Fest. To see Bryan's work, www.btbsculptor.com. AUTHENTIC BLACKSMITHLocal blacksmith Wolfgang Schweizer demonstrates the long lost art of forging iron. In addition to actually blacksmithing, he displays his wares to provide a good representation of the objects that blacksmiths produce like:
GENEALOGYThe Sons & Daughters of the Veterans of the Civil War assist Fest-goers in researching family roots + possible involvement in America's Civil War. Also see Monette Bebow-Reinhard present her Civil War Story on Saturday und Sunday. www.bebow-reinhard. HANDWERKER AREAThis Area is music to your eyes! Here you see an extensive display of antique musical instruments as well as The Wood Turners. The Harmonica Club & The Milwaukee Ukulele Club are on-hand to discuss & display their instruments as well. Be sure to see both Clubs on the Musikgarten Stage.
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