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Saturday, October 2, 1999
By GUY PRIEL Journal Staff Writer NEW ULM -- Although the weather outside had residents checking their calendars, the spirit at the Holiday Inn on Friday screamed October, as approximately 400 people gathered for the first day of the 18th Annual Oktoberfest. In the German Rivers Room, members of the Central Wisconsin Polka Club were dancing to the musical stylings of the Mississippi Valley Dutchmen from Cashton, Wisc. The groups leader, Brian Brueggan, began playing concertina with his father and uncles when he was eight years old. Music has always been a part of his heritage, beginning with his great-great grandfather, who was a drummer during the Civil War. In 1985, Brueggan began his own band. In 1986 they were named the No. 1 upcoming new band of the year by Ballroom operators and Dancers throughout the region. In 1989, they were chosen as the No. 1 Polka Variety Band. In 1991, they represented the heritage of the upper midwest during a concert in Washington, D.C.. While they were in Washington, the band played on Capital Molle for the Festival of American Folk Life sponsored by the Smithsonian Institution. Since their inception, they have performed in Iowa, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Arizona, Nevada, Missouri and Kansas. Poolside, crowds were dancing the shadish led by the New Ulm Heritage Fest Narren, while New Ulm's own Concord Singers entertained the crowds. It was a gathering of families, as the Miller family from Duluth gathered poolside for a family reunion. "We have held our family reunion during Oktoberfest every year since it started 18 years ago," Joseph Miller said. "It is a great chance for all of us to get together and have a great time enjoying good food and good music." Planning the reunion around Oktoberfest began in 1981, when Paul Miller, a resident of New Ulm, decided to have his children and grandchildren together in conjunction with a special event. "Oktoberfest made sense, because it helps us celebrate our heritage, while enjoying each other's company," Aaron Miller of Ypsilanti, Mich. said. Paul died in 1984, but the family has continued to gather every year, with some coming from as far away as New Jersey. "There are fewer of us left in the family these days, but we still return to New Ulm to enjoy our heritage," Thomas Miller of Des Moines said. "Our goal is to eventually get the grandchildren interested so the tradition of holding our family reunion in conjunction with Oktoberfest will continue." Others discovered Oktoberfest by mistake, like Isaac and Deborah Paulson of Rockville, Ill., who were passing through New Ulm on their way to a wedding in South Dakota. "The snow was coming down heavy, so we decided to stop here because there were so many hotels available," Isaac said. "We saw the sign and decided to stop and check out what was going on. It is a really interesting event." Festivities will resume today at the Holiday Inn, beginning poolside at noon with the Valley Boys from New Ulm and in the German Rivers Room at 2 p.m. with Gary's Original Dutchmen from Wisconsin. Events will also be held at Turner Hall, beginning at 11 a.m. with the New Ulm Original German Band.
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