German celebration kicks off in Jefferson

By Diane Graff of the Daily Times staff
Friday, September 12, 2008 10:57 PM CDT

Kayla Kloss of Jefferson celebrates the beginning of the city's annual Gemuetlichkeit Days event during a dance with friends in the Black Forest Garden of Jefferson County Fair Park Friday evening. (JOHN HART/Daily Times)

JEFFERSON - Ein Prosit was a common saying in Jefferson Friday night as the community kicked off its annual celebration of its German heritage.

Everyone in Jefferson is German for the weekend as the Gemuetlichkeit City comes to life with polka bands, bed races and a huge parade on Sunday.

“We are here to celebrate our heritage,” Bill Becker, this year's president of the Gemuetlichkeit celebration, said at the German flag raising ceremony shortly after the activities began Friday night. The German national anthem was read as king and queen Gregg and Sara Heideman raised the black, red and yellow flag outside the Jefferson County Fair Park buildings.

The flag ceremony followed the ceremonial tapping of the first keg in the Black Forest Garten. This year's honorary beer is Spaten Bier, imported from Germany.

This year's theme is “Ein Prosit Mecki,” which is a salute to Mecki in honor of the Mecki doll hunt which has served as a prelude to each Gemuetlichkeit Days since 1986.

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Each year, a three-inch high Mecki, which looks like a hedgehog, is hidden in the community. Mecki is a magical and elfin forest creature who is in German folklore. The Mecki became famous as a post-World War II cartoon character.

Each year a replica of the creature is hidden in the community with various clues are provided to the seekers. The Mecki doll was found earlier this week, according to Queen Sara Heideman.

“He comes right from Germany,” Gregg Heideman said. “Cheers to the good people,” he added.

Many people attend the 38th annual opening ceremonies for a taste of the German beer and the food and refreshments that are available at the activity center, Gregg said. The authentic German cuisine has grown over the years with sauerbraten, potato pancakes and German potato salad and bratwurst.

On opening night, the organizers plan something new or different, Sara said. This year, a tuba contest was held with participants attempting to perform a German polka.

The tuba contest was one of many activities and events that will be held throughout the weekend in the Jefferson County community. Today's activities include an ethnic costume contest for children, a horseshoe contest, craft fair, Schafskopf tournament and a German food contest with main dishes and desserts.

Sunday's activities begin at 10 a.m. with bed races, parade at noon, German fire drill at 3:30 p .m. and closing “Ein Prosit” at 7:30 p.m.

Throughout the years, Sara and Gregg have been active with many different aspects of the celebration. “It has been very fun and there is a lot to do,” Sara said of their reign this weekend.

The couple, which met at Gemuetlichkeit Days in 1987, were crowned king and queen at the annual May Ball. In the past five months, they have appeared in seven parades.

They have received a lot of family support, especially from Gregg's parents, Roger and Pat Heideman, who served as the 1999 king and queen. Sara's brother is planning to escort the first queen, Katherine Schmidt, at the presentation of past kings and queens Saturday night. Sara said Schmidt was her neighbor when she was growing up in Jefferson.

Gregg and Sara praised the organizers of the event, the hard work and dedication of all the volunteers.

Most of the past kings and queens help with the festival. Bill Meinel, king from 1998, said he spends time setting up and taking down decorations, along with selling tokens. “We all set up and take down. We have weekly meetings and a great committee,” he said.

“We are having a very nice start to the festival,” Meinel said.

About half of the crowd, including young and old, come dressed in German costume and lederhosen. One such visitor to the event Friday night was Denise Lange. “Everyone at Premiere Bank dresses up for the event,” she said.

Lange said she is a polka band fan and in her younger days she and her husband would dance to the music.

“You always see people you don't see the rest of the year,” she said about the celebration.