Scene from the 25th Hamler Summerfest, 1993 Photo courtesy Hamler Summerfest
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The Hamler Summerfest
The idea for the first Hamler Summerfest in Henry
County came when a few couples in 1968 visited the Frankenmuth
festival in Michigan, and enjoyed its
gemurtlekeit (sociability). Both communities are of largely German descent. The
first festival began on a Sunday afternoon in a tent behind the
American Legion Hall, with two polka bands and a makeshift dance
floor. The response was overwhelming with 900 people attending,
many until after midnight. The next festival in 1970 was held over
two days, attracting 2,000 people. The festival continued to grow
in popularity, overflowing the streets and tents. In 1973, festival
organizers decided to purchase 13 acres which could be used as a
park and festival grounds. In 1975, the Hamler Summerfest honored
Hamler's 100th anniversary with a parade with 80 units, a baking
contest, a beard and mustache contest, a dress and bonnet contest,
and lots of German-style food-bratwurst, German potato salad, hot
dogs and sauerkraut, lots of beer, and several polka bands. In July
2000, the festival attracted 20,000 visitors from across the
country.
Documentation includes a legacy report, two
anniversary catalogs from the 1973 festival, brochures, flyers,
memorabilia, three video cassettes from 1976, 1998, and 1993
festivals, and an audio cassette.
Originally submitted by: Paul E. Gillmor, Representative (5th District).
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