Guttenberg's 35th GermanFest has announced its schedule of events. The event will take place on Friday, Sept. 25, and Saturday, Sept. 26.
Festivities begin with a craft show at the festival entrance and a performance from a German Band on the stage at 4 p.m. The opening ceremony will follow at 5:30 p.m.
The festival stage will keep Friday night rocking with Master Yodeler Kerry Christensen and Barefoot Becky at 5:45 and 6:30, respectively.
The next day, a 5K race will begin at the Guttenberg Swimming Pool at 9 a.m. The gates for the event will open an hour later.
The festival stage will feature several acts throughout the day, including the German Band at 11 a.m., Beau Timmerman at 1:30 p.m., Love Handles at 4 p.m., Kerry Christensen at 7 p.m. and Shirts and Skins at 8:15 p.m.
The stage will also host a yodeling contest at 6:30 and a costume contest immediately thereafter.
On the 600 block of the riverfront, visitors can partake in a menagerie of activities. Food contests, which will include sauerkraut, desserts and potato salad, will begin at 12:30 p.m.
A Home Brew Contest will also take place. The tasting will be held from 1-3 p.m. along the riverfront just outside the main festival tent. Cash prizes will be given out to people's favorite suds.
Entries for the contest must include six bottles or 72 ounces and may be delivered to the main tent by noon on Saturday, Sept. 26. Those interested in entering the contest can contact Dr. Andy Smith at doctor.andrew.smith@gmail.com or by text at 563-880-9992. Smith has brewed Windswept beer in Guttenberg since 1987.
Festival goers can make a free-will donation for the people's choice ballot. Ballots will be collected, and the winners will be announced after the tasting concludes at 3 p.m.
Other activities, such as the keg roll, stein holding, keg toss and relay, will take place on the riverfront throughout the afternoon.
At the Center Court Stage, a kids' costume contest will kick off the day at 11 a.m. Activities to follow include a kids' Stein holding contest and wiener dog races at 11:30 and noon. The Illuminate Dance Troupe, Clayton Ridge Drill Team and German Band will also perform on that stage in the early afternoon.
The kids' area on the 600 block will feature other fun diversions from inflatables to a pretzel walk to dice games available for everyone to enjoy.
Admissions prices are $15 for visitors 21 and older and $10 for guests under 21. The cost covers attendance for both days. Admission includes access to live music, arts and crafts shows, German games, dance performances, specialty food vendors and kids' activities.
