'Rasslin returns

to Heritagefest

Matches set

for Saturday

starting at 5 p.m.

By RON LARSEN

Journal Staff Writer

NEW ULM -- Back by popular demand, it's sauerkraut wrestling!

That's right, folks. This weekend's Heritagefest 2004 finale will have normally rational people rolling around in sauerkraut like they did last weekend, Heritagefest Director Kathleen Backer confirmed Wednesday.

"It's in the works. We are planning to run it on Saturday from 5 until 8 p.m. with matches on the hour if we have registrations. I can tell you there are some challenges in the works, but I've not been able to confirm those today," she said.

But, that's only the outer leaves of the cabbage as far as what will be going on at the Fairgrounds Friday through Sunday.

For openers, there's the Red Hat Society day activities on Friday when women wearing red hats from 15 chapters throughout the state will be descending upon Heritagefest. They'll be guests at a special Red Hat Welcome and program to be presented in Fest Halle, starting at 3:30 p.m.

Then, Nashville entertainer LynnMarie and her band, The Boxhounds, will take the stage at Fest Halle at 5:30 p.m. for the first of three performances Friday evening. LynnMarie, who sings and accompanies herself on the accordion, also will be performing three times in Fest Halle on Saturday. Over in the Bayerwald Tent, fest-goers will be able to tap their feet to the music of Germany's Musikvrein Herborn-Seelbach band. The band performs Saturday in the Rosen Tent and in Fest Halle on Sunday

"They're truly back by popular demand. This will be the fifth time they've appeared at Heritagefest. The last time was three years ago," Backer said.

Another real "powerhouse" of a band is the 10-member Powerhouse band from Mankato. They will be performing three times in the Rosen Tent, starting at 4:15 p.m. on Friday and three times Saturday, starting at 5:30 p.m.

Let's not forget New Ulm's own Concord Singers who will be performing all three days, in the Rosen Tent, Fest Halle and Bayerwald Tent.

Then, there are two more musical groups from across the Atlantic -- Die Oswalder band of Austria and the Heidelberg Quartett (featuring five musicians) of Germany -- who will be performing all three days, as well.

Karaoke, making its first appearance at Heritagefest, is back for the second weekend, with three performances on the Variety Stage, starting at 4 p.m., on Friday.

The Native American dance group called Cansa 'yapi Oyate from Morton will perform twice on the Variety Stage Saturday afternoon. The Morris dancers -- Minnesota traditional dance -- will perform twice in the Rosen Tent Sunday, and the Mexican Folk Dancers will be performing in both Fest Halle and Bayerwald Tent on Sunday.

The Lin Hans Rud Dancers of Hanska will perform three times on the Variety Stage on Sunday.

Sunday's activities will be capped by the annual Heritagefest Parade, the fest's only outside the Fairgrounds activity, which starts at 12:15 p.m. and runs until 2 p.m.

"We want to remind fest-goers that children six and under get in free, and on Sunday, the last day, children 12 and under get in free," Backer said.