Heritagefest: Even better than last week

By KURT NESBITT

Journal Staff Writer

NEW ULM -- The second Saturday of the second weekend of Heritagefest is historically one of the best days of the annual get-together, and yesterday was no exception.

The trend of clear skies, sun and mild temperatures continued and the Saturday crowd morphed gradually from senior citizens in the later morning to families in the afternoon to young adults and teenagers at night.

The festival grounds were choc full of people by 1:30 p.m., making the main road through the fairgrounds tougher that usual to negotiate.

Around 2 p.m., Heritagefest Executive Director Kathleen Backer was asked about her feelings on the crowd numbers. She replied, "It's even better that last Friday. Historically, it's much better the Saturday of the second weekend."

Festgoers were practically everywhere Saturday afternoon. The Bayerwald Open-Air Tent was packed with people looking to take in a Die Fuenf Lustigen Sechs show. And when the Concord Singers took the Rosen Tent stage, the mass shifted in order to catch their gig.

The Civic Center Fest Halle also drew a huge crowd when accordionist LynnMarie took the stage later in the afternoon. Grounds crews had to pull back the black curtains that hid the arena bleachers, so more people could see the show. LynnMarie managed to get the kids and the adults dancing feverishly to her polka-rock blend of dance music.

Crowds for Mankato rhythm and blues group Powerhouse were still sizeable and several, including a handful of off-duty Austrian musicians, filled the variety stage for the first show put on by Cansa 'yapi Oyate, a Dakota dance group from the Lower Sioux Indian Community in Morton.

And, as usual, the fest keg opening drew many of the roamers in from parts elsewhere to pet the Schell's draft horses, ask questions of the beer wagon drivers and queue up for that free cup of beer.

Once again, Mayor Joel Albrecht was called on by the Concord Singers to deliver an opening speech. In Saturday's version, he recognized a group from Oktoberfest in La Crosse, Wis., who came to visit, and a group of tourists from Cincinnati, Ohio, whom Albrecht credited with helping establish the city of New Ulm, since many of the first settlers came from Cincinnati.

Later in the evening, as the sun was beginning to set and concerns about a thunderstorm heading south from Winthrop subsided, Backer was once again called out to deliver some materials to president Hugh Nierengarten at the fairgrounds' grandstand.

"We are really pleased with this crowd and with the response of the crowd to the entertainment," Backer said, as she hustled across the grass. "This is all about having good expectations."

Added Nierengarten, "It's booming, just booming. We couldn't have asked for a better day weatherwise, foodwise or crowdwise."