That
celebration recognized the more than 8 million immigrants from
German-speaking countries who have come to America since the first
settlers from Krefeld, Germany, set foot on these shores and
established their homestead in nearby Germantown, now part of
Philadelphia proper. In the mid-18th century, Germans, at one
point, represented nearly half of Philadelphia's population, and this
was considered a "challenge" by Benjamin Franklin,
the founding father of our country. At the last nationwide
census, still more than 20 percent of the US citizens claimed German
ancestry.
Following President Reagan's 1983 proclamation of October 6 as German-American Day,
the Mayor of Philadelphia has held a commemorative reception at City
Hall each year, and will do so again this year. Interestingly,
all other festivities celebratin October 6 slipped into oblivion.
Why do German-Americans, one might ask, keep such a low profile?
Look
at the Irish-Americans who have St. Patrick's Day, or the
Italian-Americans who celebrate Columbus Day - with much merrymaking to
be seen and heard. Therefore, let's show all the residents of the
Delaware Valley and visitors to our historic city that we can have fun,
too! Particularly, since the 325th anniversary is just around the
corner.
Last
fall, in anticipation of this year's jubilee, our Society and its
facilities were the focal point for the three-day festival which drew
over 1,000 people to our premises.
What
we have lined up for this year promises to appeal to young and old
alike, Germans and non-Germans, who want to savor our culture and
history. Our ongoing events include an historic play, a four-part
PBS documentary, a fundraising walk-a-thon, an historical symposium, a Volkslieder sing-along, a dance performance, a concert featuring medieval music, an Oktoberfest Street Festival, and two performances by a 100-piece orchestra coming from the Palatine region of Germany.
And
not to worry, for dining throughout this long weekend there will be
German bratwursts, sauerkraut, rolls, and pretzels with plenty of beer,
wine and sodas from the vast selection of our Ratskeller.
| Wednesday, October 1 | Time | Cost |
| "Ben and
the Germans" An historic play developed and performed by area high school students about the competition between Ben Franklin and Christoph Sauer |
1:00pm | $10 per person Includes lunch, two workshops, and the play |
| Early
German-American History Symposium Lectures include: The First Germans in America, Pennsylvania's Immigrant Recruitment in Germany, The Life of German-Americans in the late 18th Century, and The Contributions of the Muehlenberg Family |
3:00-6:00pm | Good Will Donations |
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| Thursday, October 2 | ||
| Film
Presentation, "Germans in America" Part 1: "Into the Promised Land" Part 2: "The Price of Freedom" |
7:00pm 8:00pm |
Good Will Donations |
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| Friday, October 3 | ||
| Dedication of German Immigration Mural | 10:00am | Free |
| Mayor's Reception at City Hall | 12:00 noon | Free, limited seating |
| Songs of the Minnesingers and Instrumental Dances concert | 3:00pm | $10 |
| Film
Presentation, "Germans in America" Part 3: "Little Germanies" Part 4: "A People Disappears" |
7:00pm 8:00pm |
Good Will Donations |
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| Saturday, October 4 | ||
| 5K and 10K Walk with the Liberty Bell Wanderers | Beginning at 9:00am | In support of German Heritage Center in DC |
| Oktoberfest | Beginning at 11:00am | Modest prices for food and drink |
| Group Motion Modern Dance Performance Directed by Manfred Fischbeck | 7:00pm | $10 kids 18 and under, $15 students and seniors, $20 adults |
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| Sunday, October 5 | ||
| German Church Service at Old Zion Lutheran Church | 10:00am | Free (628 North Broad Street in Philadelphia) |
| Ecumenical Church Serivce at Immanuel Lutheran Church | 11:00am | Free (1400 Worthington Road in Philadelphia) |
| Landesjugendorchester
Rheinland-Pfalz performance Selections by Elgar, Beethoven, and Mendelssohn |
3:00pm | $20 |
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| Monday, October 6 | ||
| Dedication of Historical Marker | 10:00am | Free |
| AMERIKA,
GIBT ES ODER GIBT ES NICHT Play performed by the KRESCHtheater Company from Krefeld, Germany |
2:30pm | $10 |
| Sing-along of German Volkslieder | 4:00pm | Free |
| Landesjugendorchester
Rheinland-Pfalz performance Selections by Barber, Elgar, and Mendelssohn |
7:00pm | $20 |
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| Ongoing Weekend Events | ||
| Open House Gartenfest | 10/3 - 10/6 | Serving bratwurst, pretzels, sauerkraut and other German fare |
| Book Sale | 10/3 - 10/6 | |
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| All events are at the German Society unless otherwise noted. | ||
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| Free parking in our lot adjacent to our building on Spring Garden Street |