Page 6 - GC-Nov-Dec-2025

41st Annual Buffalo German Festival was bigger and better than before

By Steve Dlugosz Blaskapelle is described as a non- Consul of the Federation Republic of
raditional elements as well profit volunteer driven organization Germany-Buffalo, Tops, JRS Fibers
as implemented, progres- of about 30 musicians, performing for Life, SPoT Coffee, Cuba Cheese
Tsive, fun items summarized across WNY at various events, ex- Shoppe, Briar Brothers Brewing,
a bustling, 41st Annual Buffalo isting for more than 180 years. Stiglmeier Sausage Co. Inc, Wright
German Festival the weekend of The Buffalo Dortmund Sister Beverage Distributing, The German
August 22-23 at Cheektowaga City Committee includes a collabo- Citizen and Steuben Society of
Town Park. ration between Buffalo and Dort- America.
The most-ever vendor tents (two mund, Germany, founded in 1972 Buffalo German Festival origi-
dozen) were on hand to present in- with groundwork for a formal part- nated in 1982 at Schiller Park on the
formational and sales items. Promo- nership established on July 4, 1977 East Side of Buffalo, transitioning to
tion for the event also included in Dortmund. The Buffalo-Dort- Cheektowaga Town Park in 1994.
unprecedented notice being posted mund Student Ambassador Pro- Mary Huson Haderer of South Buf-
on Facebook and other social media gram had a table to present falo remembered attending Buffalo
sites, as a determined effort was information to those interested. German Festivals at both venues,
made to get the word out prior to the Other related informational tables expressing her longtime interest in
festival, which was held one week were coordinated by Das Haus, Ein- the festivities.
earlier than the usual Labor Day haus und Der Stall German Heri- "This is what Buffalo is all about
weekend presence. As stated by longstanding vendor at the German sponsored by Briar Brothers Brew- tage Museum and Friends of – festivals, food and traditions," Hu-
Dan Desrosiers, longtime proprietor Festival – enthusiasm for the week- ery. Concordia Cemetery. The SGTV son Haderer said. "My parents took
of The Bavarian Nut Company – a end event remains as strong as ever. Musical entertainment for the Edelweiss Schuhplattler Dancers me there, and I then took my kids
"We're all German today," weekend included performances by also performed. here, and now my daughter and son-
mused Desrosiers. "We've been here The Polka Boyz, The Bergholz A European Car and Motorcy- in-law take their boys here. It's
going back as long as I can remem- Blaskapelle German Band and The cle Corral was also coordinated on passed down from generation to
ber. It's a tradition in many ways." German-American Musicians. The Aug. 23. Other event sponsors / generation."
For the second year in a row, traditional Marktplatz & Cultural supporters included West Herr, Knowles added that the Buffalo
Melanie Knowles served as the fes- Center, also, was sponsored by the Spring Garden Association, German Festival Committee has
tival's marketing and promotions Honorary Consul of the Federal Re- Hofbrauhaus Buffalo, Honorary been working on a five-year plan to
chair, describing the event as pri- public of Germany. Waldspiele be rolled out.
marily family-oriented but present- games and Knoggle was another of
ing something for everyone. The the entertainment options.
opening ceremony on Aug. 22 fea- "We like to think of it as family
tured members of the American Le- friendly and offering something for
gion Post #735. A Stein Hoist everyone," Knowles said of the Buf-
competition was also coordinated, falo German Festival, which was
sponsored by Hofbrauhaus Buffalo. estimated as attracting even more
A keg-tapping event was also held, than the 2,000 who attended last
year's event. Proceeds from the
event benefited The Federation of
German-American Societies of Buf-
falo and Vicinity's 11 clubs.
She added the event being held
one week prior allowed more atten-
tion and focus on Buffalo German FROM THREE LUTHERAN CONGREGATIONS (from left to right)
Pastor Roger Griffiths - Zion Clarence Center, Pastor Jeremiah P.
Festival, separating it from the busy
Labor Day weekend of competing Smith - Parkside Buffalo, and Pastor Steve Beigner - St. Paul's
Eggertsville, have come together to provide weekly worship services.
events.
Other traditional elements coor- Their mission is to unleash the message of God's good news into every
home in Western New York.
dinated included a Sauerkraut-eat-
ing contest, a Hummel Look-Alike All in the Family (The German Family)!
contest, face-painting, crafts and
lawn games, and German-themed Frohe Weihnachten!
dancing. Traditional German food
offerings included bratwurst, sauer-
By John Duke This Christmas, I asked Rev.
kraut, swiss cheese, limburger on I am partial to Bavaria and write Jeremiah P. Smith of the Parkside
rye, pretzel and mustard, German
about the international Munich Se- Lutheran Church to send a Christ-
potato salad, landjager, leberkase curity Conference each February. mas message for the readers of The
and pickles. Spaten, Warsteiner,
I'm also big on Oktoberfest and German Citizen und hier ist was er
Oktoberfest, Dunkel, Koenig Lud- write about the 2nd largest Oktober- freundlicherweise geschickt hat
wig Weissbier and other German
fest in the world, being right here in (and here is what he was kind
themed beers were available in the Kitchener, Ontario. You have to enough to send):
beer tent, and special boot
buy tickets for it years in advance. "What’s your favorite Christmas
glasses/cups could be purchased. Kitchener was known as Berlin un- activity? Giving gifts, making cook-
Marktplatz tent vendors includ-
til a 1916 referendum changed its ies, watching those classic movies?
ed Alpine Sweets Bakery, The Art name. The largest Saint Patrick's Those are all great, but nothing tops
Wax Werke, Bavarian Nut Compa-
Day on the European mainland is in the awe and wonder inspired by a
ny, Bergholz Blaskapelle, Buffalo München (Munich), and the Irish trip to… Home Depot or Lowes.
Dortmund Sister City Committee,
make up the 2nd largest group of My young kids can be fussy or
Catering by Marjorie, The Concor- Europeans in Bavaria (after Ger- bickering, we the parents, exhaust-
dia Foundation, CM Travel Agency,
mans) each Oktober. ed, fussy, and sometimes also bick-
EF Student Exchange, German Ge- I'm also partial to Bavaria be- ering, but when we walk into one of
nealogy, GAM band, GoNetSpeed,
cause my father's mother's family those stores for a moment the wor-
Helmut Strudel of WNY, Historical (nee Hamm) came from there be- ries melt away because of the power
Society of North German Settle-
fore heading to Canada. My father's of the lights. The doors open and
ments, Learn About Germany & father (also Irish) can trace his an- you are greeted by incredible
The Buffalo German Federation,
cestry to Vikings in Norway. The Christmas trees, giant inflatables,
Niagara Frontier Volkssport Club, connections between Germany and lights of all shapes and sizes.
Outback, Kettle Korn, The Pink
Scandanavia have been there for The problems of life and the
Cow Ice Cream Shop, Swede Hill centuries. Most people know the world don’t completely disappear
Garden & Gifts, Taylor Made
Anglo-Saxons that settled England but for 10 to 20 minutes the kids run
Crowns, Thompson's Treasures, came from Saxony in Germany. from display to display. Smiles
Touchstone Crystal and Vintage
So this year I'd like to write beaming for there is joy when you
Linens & Things. Bergholz
about the other half of the German bask in the light. I am reminded;
family, the Lutherans. Fröhliche Light Makes a Difference.
Weihnachten: As people of faith every Christ-
Martin Luther was born in Eisle- mas we celebrate the birth of Jesus.
ben, a town in Saxony-Anhalt, Ger- The author John writes, “The light
many. It is famous as both the shines in the darkness, and the
hometown of the influential theolo- darkness did not overtake it.”
gian Martin Luther and the place Worship during the Christmas
where he died; hence, its official season is an opportunity to bask in
name is Lutherstadt Eisleben. the light, love, and presence of God.
First mentioned in the late 10th For those who might not be able to
century, Eisleben is divided into the physically make it to worship, WNY
old town of Altstadt, and new town Church Unleashed is a TV worship
of Neustadt. Neustadt was created service that airs on WBBZ TV (Ch.
for Eisleben's miners in the 14th 5 or 67) Sundays at 10 a.m. and on
century. As of 2020, Eisleben had a Christmas Eve at 5 p.m. Or you can
population of 22,668. It lies on the find us on Facebook and Youtube.
6 • THE GERMAN CITIZEN • November - December 2025 Halle–Kassel railway.