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Best of Toledo Award47th Annual German-American Festival 2012

Taking Place at Oak Shade Grove in Oregon, Ohio - August 24, 25 & 26, 2012

  GAF Home   Festival Home    Entertainment   Tickets & Shuttle  Festival Information    Raffle   Volunteer   Contact
 GAF Clubhouse  Festival Information:    

  Friday: 
  August 24, 2012 - 6:00 PM to 1:00 AM
  Opening Ceremonies will be held at 8:00 PM
  in the Fest Zelt

  Saturday:  
  August 25, 2012 - 2:00 PM to 1:00 AM

  Sunday: 
  August 26, 2012 - 12:00 Noon to 11:00 PM
 German Church Service Starts at 10:30 a.m.


Future Festival Dates: August 23 - 25, 2013; August 22 - 24, 2014; August 28 - 30, 2015; August 26 - 28, 2016


  

  All alcohol sales end at Midnight Friday and Saturday. Liquor available on Sunday

Crowd Shot at Festival

47th GERMAN-AMERICAN FESTIVAL INFORMATION SHEET
Download: PDF copy of the Festival Information Sheet - updated 8-7-2011

WHAT:
The 47th German-American Festival, the Toledo area’s Oldest, Largest and Greatest Ethnic Festival with authentic German Food, Beer, and Entertainment. Festival organizers expect upward from 30,000 paid attendees.

 The Festival is operated by the G.A.F. Society, recognized by the Internal Revenue Service as a §501(c)(3) charitable organization.  It is sponsored by the seven German- and Swiss-American Societies in Toledo.

 

WHY:
The purpose of the German-American Festival is to promote and enhance the German and Swiss cultures as well as generates revenue to support the German and Swiss cultural center in Oregon and a wide variety of scholarship, athletic and other philanthropic programs in the Toledo area.

 

WHERE:
Oak Shade Grove, 3624 Seaman Road, Oregon, Ohio, just ½ mile east of Coy Road. 

 

WHEN:
              Friday, August 24, 2012: 6:00 p.m. – 1:00 a.m. (Parade and Opening Ceremonies begin at 8:00 p.m.)

              Saturday, August 25, 2012: 2:00 p.m. – 1:00 a.m.

              Sunday, August 26, 2012: 12:00 Noon – 11:00 p.m. with a German Language worship service at 10:30 a.m.
                (Alcohol sales cease at 12:00 midnight on Friday and Saturday nights.  Wine and Liquor available on Sunday)

ADMISSION: General admission: $7.00 per person. Children 12 years of age and under admitted at no charge all weekend when accompanied by a parent or guardian.

$6 Discount Advance Purchase Admission Tickets & GAF Shuttle Tickets are available for online purchase at www.germanamericanfestival.net or www.gafsociety.org/fest.htm.  Save time and avoid lines at the entrance gates, buy tickets in advance and online, print at home and save! Two day ($10) and three day ($15) admission passes available only online. 

Discount Advance Purchase Admission Tickets & GAF Shuttle Tickets are also available at Arnie’s Westgate; Berger’s Olde Tyme on Laskey; Shawn’s Irish Tavern on Heatherdowns and on Third St. in Waterville; Manhattan’s Restaurant, Bretz Bar, The Attic on Adams, Wesley’s Bar & Grill and the Ottawa Tavern in the Toledo Uptown area; Ventura’s Original Mexican Cantina on Bancroft, Mayfly Tavern in Point Place and Yeeha’s Buckin’ Bar & Grill on Navarre in Oregon.

Special Sunday Discounts: Active military, police, fire, or EMS personnel will be admitted at no charge (with proof of employment) on Sunday.  Senior citizens’ with Golden Buckeye card or equivalent will be admitted for $1 discount from general admission on Sunday at the gate. 

GAF SHUTTLE:  $6.00 GAF Shuttle ticket purchase, as well as free parking and shuttle pick-up and drop-off locations at five Toledo-area locations.  Shuttle tickets also available at Shawn’s Irish Tavern on Heatherdowns and on Third St. in Waterville; Manhattan’s Restaurant, Bretz Bar, Wesley’s Bar & Grill and the Ottawa Tavern in the Toledo Uptown area; Ventura’s Mexican Cantina on Bancroft, and Yeeha’s Buckin’ Bar & Grill on Navarre in Oregon. Yeeha’s provides a complimentary shuttle service.  Buy shuttle tickets online and print at home at www.germanamericanfestival.net or www.gafsociety.org/fest.htm.

Shuttle ticket locations & departure locations:
      o Arnie’s Westgate
      o Berger’s Olde Tyme on Laskey Rd.
      o Lucas County Recreation Center
      o Mayfly Tavern on Summit St.
      o The Attic on Adams in ToledoUptown

Shuttle Departure Times:
        o Friday, August 24, 2012 – 6:00 p.m. – 1:00 a.m.
        o Saturday, August 25, 2012 – 4:00 p.m. – 1:00 a.m.
        o Last shuttle departs from parking pick-up location at 10:00 p.m. Friday and Saturday.
        o Last GAF shuttle departs from Festival Grounds at 1:00 a.m.
        o Special Sunday Shuttle: Sunday, August 26, 2012 – 2:00 p.m. – 11:00 p.m. from Arnie’s Westgate only.

Featuring: (see Festival_Entertainment for more entertainment activities)

•  Continuous live music at 3 stages from local Germanic and ethnic bands, andour strolling button box artist from Germantown, Wisc. Our featured band is Austrian Express from Milwaukee, Wisc.

 

•  Large 56’ by 40’ wooden dance floor (in the Fest Zelt – the main tent: a 100 foot by 265 foot clear span tent with no poles!  Made in Germany, just like at the Oktoberfest!) for dancing enjoyment, plus other dance floors on the Festival grounds.

 

•  Over 70 acres of free, lighted parking with people movers to deliver you to the mainentrance gate on Seaman Street. Parking areas can be entered from Starr Avenue, CorduroyRoad or Seaman Street. People movers operate continuously in a 27acre parking area accessible from Seaman Road or Corduroy Road. Other entrance gates are accessible fromStarr or Seaman lots. Rain or shineparking at Starr Elementary School, Fassett Middle School and Clay High School (East lot) lots with shuttle bus service between these lots and the Festivalgrounds.

 

•  Handicapped parking available from Seaman Road.  Free handicapped shuttle on Festival grounds.

 

• Shuttle bus service from five Toledo-area parking lots deliver you right to the gate and safely returns you to your car.

 

•  Opening ceremony with parade featuring colorful costumes and pageantry through the Festival grounds.

•  How fast can you eat soft, baked pretzels? Join the Brezelessen (pretzel eating) competition!

 

•  The goal is simple: Lift and hold a 1 liter stein, filled with beer,straight out with your arm level to the ground! “Masskrugstemmen,” which translates loosely to the lifting of a litermug of beer, is a well-known and a competitive Bavarian sport. The “Masskrug,”a 1 Liter Stein is held with one arm, completely stretched out and parallel tothe floor! Sound easy? The current U.S.record is 14 minutes, 7 seconds! Contest starts at 7:30 p.m. on Friday and Saturday.

•  Hummel Look-Alike Contest is a contest for all children from 2 to 10 years of age by pre-application.  The children dress like the famous Hummel figurines with prizes awarded for the most authentic look-alike.  This is the longest running similar contest in the U.S. (Sunday afternoon)

 

•  Schwabenhalle Outdoor Pavilion renamed the Hofbräuhalle features rain or shine entertainment throughout the day and evening.

•  Old World-style outdoor Bier & Wein Garten under the trees will feature large umbrellatables. A wooden dance floor withcontinuous German polkas and waltzes featured there. Watch for special performances by our folkloredance group – the Holzhacker Buam Schuhplattler – as well as other folklore dancegroups from the Midwest. Watch for our special guest Schuhplatter:the STV “Bavaria” from Cleveland,Ohio and “Edelweiss” from Detroit, Michigan.

 

•  Designated Driver Program –The Guest Services Booth will again have information on responsible alcohol consumption and will distribute coupons to the “Designated Driver” to be used for three complimentary soft drinks to enjoy while visiting the Festival.

 

•  Raffle – A super 50/50 raffle with prizes will be awarded each evening and final drawingon Sunday evening at 7:00 p.m. Winnersneed not be present. Tickets are 3 for $5.

 

•  The Festival is spread over 10 wooded acres providing an authentic German atmosphere.

 

•   Returning amusement rides in 2011 include rides such as: Berry-Go-Round, Carnival Trains, Himalaya, Merry-Go-Round, Paratroopers, Scat, Tilt-A-Whirl, Atlantis Jump House, Mutation Fun House, Scrambler, Starship, Steph's Express and Swings for children and the young at heart all weekend.  Again in 2011: All Day Ride pass and discounted special pricing.

 

•  Children’s Identification Program – have your child complete an ID kit and keep a set of fingerprints.  This helps promote your child’s safety. This program is under the direction of Oregon Police Division

 

•  Face painting and clowns making balloon animals – Saturday and Sunday

 

•  Swiss Steinstossen – Centuries old authentic Swiss stone throwingcontest. In this competition, men andwomen will throw large stones (138 pounds and 75 pounds, respectively) in adesignated area and the winner will be the one throwing his or her stone thelongest distance. Prizes will be awardedon both categories. Entry in this eventis open to the public. (The Ohio women’s record wasset right here at the 2007 German-American Festival!) No pre-entry required. Contests start at 3:00 p.m. on both Saturdayand Sunday.

 

•   Soccer game and matches on both Saturday and Sunday.

 

•  Glockenspiel – While it’s not exactly like the famous Glockenspiel in Munich, Germany, come and enjoy a live version – a popular attraction for the last seven years.  Performance on the hour above the Wein Bar.

 

•  German-language Worship Service – Sunday morning at 10:30 a.m. with special music by our own Teutonia Männerchor & Damenchor and Toledo Swiss Singers.  Free admission to Festival after the Service.

 

•  Import Haus – featuring imported steins, linens, and other gift items.  Master woodcarver Berndt Fehrenbach will be displaying Black Forest Cuckoo clocks and other wares.  Again in 2011:  Through an exclusive arrangement with Build-a-Bear Workshop® we feature our mascot raccoons, Moritz and Mitzi, in stuffed animal form in Mitzi’s Hütte!

 

•  Trachtenzelt – features German wearable's and souvenirs by Schwarzkopf & Keilhofer of Frankenmuth, Mich.

 

•  ATM – is available adjacent to the Guest Services tent; food & beverage tickets available by credit/debit card in three locations on the Festival grounds.

 

•  Sidewalk Café – enjoy Kuchen, Strudels, cookies, and a variety of other homemade pastries.  This is a very pleasant and relaxing place to sit down at a cozy table to enjoy your favorite dessert and coffee.  Returning in 2011: German Strudel & Kuchen Baking Contest on Saturday at 3:30 p.m.  Submit entry to the Sidewalk Café (along with the recipe) on the day of the event! 
                                                                                                  See the form for the 2011 Baking Contest here

 

•  Lebkuchenherz – our own homemade, hand decorated gingerbread hearts – just like at the Oktoberfest in Munich!

 

•  Swiss Essen Haus – Indoor/outdoor Swiss Bäckerei featuring many types of European-style and imported cheeses, breads, and meats.  Sausages, sandwiches and roast pork dinners are made to order.

 

•  Maxi-Cooker – in order to ensure that each of the thousands of chickens served at the German-American Festival is perfectly cooked, we have a chicken cooker with state of the art controls. 

 

•   Potato Pancakes – enjoy hand made potato pancakes made the old German way.

 

•   Schnitzel Sandwiches – masterfully made in front of you, served on a Kaiser roll.

 

•  And plenty of other food items – ham shanks, Bratwurst, jalapeño Wurst, smoked Wurst, Brat patty sandwiches, pretzels,funnel cakes, Leberkäs platters, Sauerkraut, cheddar Wurst, hand made potatosalad, Sauerkraut balls, hand cut Pommes Frites, ice cream, cream puffs,pickles, landjäger, sweet corn and freshly popped popcorn! New in 2011: Leberkässemmel – a quarter pound of veal loaf on a Kaiser roll!

 

•  Featured Beers – Returning in 2011, our light beer: Labatt Blue Light and from Germany our featured beers: Warsteiner Pilsner, Warsteiner Dunkel (Dark), Warsteiner Oktoberfest, König Ludwig Weisse, Spaten Premium Lager, Spaten Dunkel (Dark), Spaten Oktoberfest, Spaten Optimator, Franziskaner Weissbier, Franziskaner Dunkel (Dark), Hofbräu Dunkel, Hofbräu Original, and Hofbräu Oktoberfestbier.  Our other great imported beers are: Ayinger Celebrator Doppelbock, Ayinger Oktoberfest Bier, Bitburger, Hacker-Pschorr München, Hacker-Pschorr Weisse, Paulaner Oktoberfest, Paulaner Hefe-Weissbier, Paulaner Salvator, Erdinger Hefe, and Köstritzer Schwarzbier. New this year: Ayinger Weizenbock, Ayinger Dunkel (Dark), Hofbräu Hefeweizen, Paulaner Lager, Paulaner Premium Pils, Weihenstephaner Hefe Weissbier, Schneider Unser Aventinus, Schneider Weisse, Tucher Kristallweizen, Augustiner Maximator (Dark), and Aecht Schlenkerla Rauchbier Märzen served in the German Bier Garten and throughout the Festival!  We proudly feature one of the largest collections of German beers at any Festival (more than the famed Oktoberfest in Germany)!  Returning in 2011 is the German Bier Tour – obtain a Bier Tour card, have your card stamped and receive a Bier Glas.

• Our featured cocktail: Imagine our new signature drink, the German ChocolateCupcake! It tastes just like German’s™ Chocolate Cake – oh so tasty!

• Our wine list includes: Schlink Haus Auslese, Kabinett, Dornfelder, Riesling QbA and Spätlese, Schmitt Sohne Piesporter; and Sutter Home Chardonnay and Moscato.  Wine tasting on Saturday and Sunday in the Wein Garten.  New in 2011: Der deutsche Wein-Flug – sample six great German wine varieties to help you find the one you enjoy the most!

• Our soft drink specialties: We proudly serve Pepsiproducts!

 

•  Give Trash the Boot! Returning in 2011! Plastic boot shaped souvenirs for you to take home.  Drinking from a boot or Stiefel is a long-time German tradition.  Made popular in the film "Beerfest!“  Also other initiatives to reduce trash going to landfills.


Website:                   www.gafsociety.org

                                    www.myspace.com/germanamericanfestival
                                     www.germanamericanfestival.net

 

Media contact:        Timothy Pecsenye, Festival Chairman, festchairman@gafsociety.org

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GAF Social Network Festival Links:
 GAF Facebook Link:www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=9032664589
GAF MySpace Link: www.myspace.com/germanamericanfestival

 

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