Annual Events
Upcoming Events
The German Society's Stiftungsfest, or Founder's Ball, is celebrated every November as a commemoration of the Society's founding in 1764. The event has undergone many changes over the years, and in its current form, the Stiftungsfest is one of the Society's biggest fundraisers.
The evening, a black tie gala, begins with a champagne reception in the library, followed by a catered dinner and dancing in our auditorium. One of the highlights of the event is always our Silent Auction, featuring items such as vacation home stays, sporting event tickets, museum passes, and restaurant gift cards.
On Saturday, November 1, 2025, we will commemorate the founding of the Society with our 261st Annual Stiftungsfest. We invite you to join us in the Horner Memorial Library for a champagne reception at 6:00pm, followed by dinner and dancing to live music in the elegant Barthelmes Auditorium at 7:00pm.
RSVP by Friday, October 17, 2025. Click HERE to learn more about this year's Stiftungsfest and get your tickets!
Stiftungsfest
The German Society of Pennsylvania is pleased to announce the opening of the registration process for the 5th Annual Bösendorfer Youth Music Festival!
We invite any individual musician from Grade 1 to 12 to sign up to compete.
Musicians and ensembles will be classified into four age groups:
- Elementary (grade 1-5)
- Junior (grade 6-8)
- Senior (grade 9-12)
- Mixed Age Ensemble
Only Classical music will be accepted, and participants must submit a copy of sheet music - with numbered measures - and a link to their audition video below. Performances should be kept to a maximum of eight (8) minutes per entry. Judges will provide feedback to participants and select Gold, Silver, and Bronze medalists for each age group and instrument category.
Gold and Silver medalists will be notified by March 14th and will go on to perform in a concert for the public on Sunday, March 30, 2025 at 3pm. Gold, Silver, and Bronze medalists will receive medals, and all participants will receive certificates.
The registration fee is $60 per individual musician and $100 per ensemble. The German Society accepts check, credit card, and PayPal.
The Society's beautiful Barthelmes Auditorium features outstanding acoustics where guest artists perform as part of its annual classical concert series. There is a Bösendorfer grand piano on stage.
The German Society of Pennsylvania is proud and pleased to invite student musicians, their parents and friends, and our fellow residents of the Philadelphia region to this exciting musical event!
The Bösendorfer Youth Music Festival Committee
Vera Shissel, Piano Teacher
Lena Solaiman, Piano Teacher and Former Vice President, Philadelphia Music Teachers Association
Ernie Weiler, VP of Advancement, German Society of PA
Liesl Jandrey, Executive Director, German Society of PA
Hardy von Auenmueller, Director and Music Committee Co-Chair, German Society of PA
Christkindlmarkt
Every December we recreate the traditional German Weihnachtsmarkt in our auditorium for holiday shopping, and delicious fare. The Women's Auxilliary began this yearly tradition in 1902 as a multi-week Weihnachtsbazaar to help fund major structural repairs in our building. Since then, the celebration has shortened to a one day event which continues to raise funds for charitable efforts. The celebration takes over the entire building with Kaffee & Kuchen in the Ratskellar while the library hosts a kids craft station and visit from Santa.
St. Martins Parade | Laternenumzug
St. Martin’s Day (Martinstag) is a beloved German tradition celebrated each November, especially cherished by families with young children. Rooted in the story of St. Martin of Tours, known for his compassion and generosity, this day honors his legacy with community gatherings, music, and lantern processions.
One of the most iconic parts of the celebration is the Laternenumzug (lantern parade), where children and their families walk together at dusk, carrying handmade lanterns that glow warmly in the evening air. The parade symbolizes light, hope, and kindness, as well as the approaching winter season.
The festivities often begin earlier in the day with family-friendly activities that highlight German culture and customs. After the lantern procession, many communities gather around a bonfire to share hot cider or cocoa, sing songs, and enjoy the cozy spirit of togetherness.
We celebrate St. Martin's Day annually with our friends from
PhillyKinder, usually on a Sunday evening in early November.
Created in 2011 by the German Society and local drinks expert Marnie Old, Bierfest is jointly hosted by the ferocious female athletes of the skater-owned Philly Roller Derby, who proudly pour to raise funds for their ambitious national tournament schedule, and the German Society. Proceeds from Bierfest also benefit the Brewers of Pennsylvania, a trade advocacy group working to empower Pennsylvania brewers and serve the interests of Pennsylvania beer lovers. The event is held in late February, and honors our states cultural and historical ties to Germany, showcasing it through beer. Pennsylvania brewers from all across the state attend, pouring beers made in traditional German styles, as well as German importers pouring beers brewed in accordance with Germany's famous 1516 "Rheinheitsgebot" beer purity laws. Local homebrewers also get a chance to show off their German beer-inspired creations in the "Home Sweet Homebrau" taste-off. Local restaurants also participate, providing finger foods for attendees.
Bierfest includes educational aspects, as well, upstairs in our "Bierfest Academy." VIP Plus ticket holders get early access to a beer tasting seminar led by Marnie Old, and everyone is welcome to attend the afternoon's Brewer's Panel Discussion, where attending brewers discuss a different beer-related topic. Past topics include "The Rise and Fall and Rise Again of German Beer Styles" (2014), and "The German Connection: Pennsylvania’s Lager-Loving Terroir" (2016).
