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Help celebrate 35 years of Guttenberg GermanFest
GermanFest
The GermanFest committee offers ideas for businesses to promote this year's festival, such as decorating with German-inspired items. Above, the Guttenberg Press is participating with a German flag, bunting and window display. (Press photo by Austin Greve)

This year marks a special milestone —Guttenberg GermanFest is celebrating its 35th anniversary on September 25–26, 2026.

For 35 years, GermanFest has brought residents, visitors, businesses, and organizations together to celebrate the community and its German heritage. "As we prepare for this anniversary year, we’d love to see our entire business community get into the GermanFest spirit and help make Guttenberg feel festive from one end of town to the other," say organizers.

How businesses can participate

There are lots of way for businesses to participate—big or small:

  • Decorate your storefront or business with GermanFest or German-inspired décor.
  • Create a GermanFest feature item or special—a German-inspired food, drink, dessert, product, service, or promotion.
  • Encourage your employees to dress in German attire or GermanFest colors.
  • Play German music, decorate your windows, fly German flags, or come up with your own creative way to celebrate.
  • Share your GermanFest spirit on social media and encourage your customers to join the fun.

"Whether your business is located directly in the festival area or elsewhere in the community, we want you to be part of the celebration," invite organizers.

GermanFest details

GermanFest festivities begin Friday, Sept. 25, at 4:00 p.m. and continue throughout Saturday, Sept. 26, with live German music, arts and crafts, traditional games, food competitions, kids' activities, costume contests, yodeling, dancing, specialty food vendors, fireworks and much more.

"Thirty-five years is something worth celebrating—and we'd love to have our local businesses help us make this anniversary feel extra special," say GermanFest committee members. "So dust off the lederhosen, break out the red, black and gold, create something uniquely GermanFest, and help us welcome visitors to Guttenberg for a weekend that celebrates both our German heritage and our community."