5/19/2018 to 5/20/2018 | Deutschheim State Historic Site | Hermann, MO
The annual Hermann Maifest, held each year on the third weekend in May, celebrates the return of spring. It features many old German customs and small-town celebrations, including children dancing around the Maypole, a Sunday afternoon parade, music and German-style beer gardens. The German heritage of Hermann will be the focus of this year’s event. Deutschheim State Historic Site is celebrating its 40th anniversary as a state historic site in 2018 and our celebration will be one of the highlights of the Hermann Maifest.
On Saturday, the historic site will feature period dulcimer music in the German gemusegarten. Re-enactors will tell the story of the Missouri Germans in the Civil War at the Feldmann Stark House. There, the “George Husmann: What Wondrous Life” exhibit will be open, interpreted by historian Linda Walker Stevens, sharing the life and achievements of the Hermann youth who became the father of the American wine industry. Samples of traditional Maiwein (May wine) from Germany will be shared with visitors. This German drink is dedicated to spring time and flavored with Waldmeister (sweet woodruff), an old world herb which grows wild in the forests of Germany. Sweet woodruff is also an herb featured in Deutschheim’s gemusegarten.
On Saturday afternoon from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m., Rosa Strehly will be portrayed by a historic site staff member from the front step of the historic Strehly House. Rosa’s life from 1865-1962 saw many changes and historic events that occurred in Missouri. Her family played an important role in the Missouri Germans fight against slavery through the German language newspaper published there. The formation of a Missouri wine industry was being promoted by the Hermanner Wochenblatt from its earliest publication in the mid19th century. This interpretation will be part of a walking tour of the Hermann historic tour highlighting notable Hermann citizens and their homes and businesses from the 19th century.
This special event is sponsored by Missouri State Parks and the Deutschheim Verein. The special events and exhibit have no admission fee.
Event times: 10 a.m. - 4 p.m.
Associated activities
- Historic Site Tours
- Interpretive Programs