Food, music draw crowds to Bavarian Festival

The oom-pa-pa of Polka music greeted hundreds of visitors Friday as local residents gathered to celebrate beer, brats and all things German at the Utica Maennerchor's annual Bavarian Festival.

Maennerchor President Mike Schreppel said the event has been an area tradition for more than 40 years and is modeled after the annual Oktoberfest celebration in Munich, Germany. More than 1,000 people are expected to attend throughout this weekend.

Virginia Thorenz of Middletown said she came to the festival with her friend Debbie Pfranger of Utica. Both are of German descent, and Thorenz said she enjoys visiting different German festivals in different areas.

“The food is great,” she said, while waiting in line at “Die Backerei” for dessert. “We've had one of everything, except the pizza.”

Thorenz said the weather could have been better - a steady drizzle continued throughout the first few hours - but that didn't seem to affect the turnout.

As the Alex Meixner Band kept people dancing in the main tent, others shopped for souvenirs or sampled German dishes such as wursts, sauerkraut, and kartoffel schlinky - thinly-sliced, deep-fried, spiral-sliced potatoes that one volunteer described as a cross between a French fry and a potato chip, “only better in every way.”

At the bakery booth, there also were Black Forest cakes and a variety of homemade desserts brought by club members.

“A lot of them are their own recipes that have been handed down through the ages, too,” Schreppel said.

Kim Gruenewald of Marcy said she and her husband, Kurt, are both from German-American families, and like to the feeling of reconnecting with tradition in addition to the food and the music. The festival location also is special for the couple because they had their wedding reception at the Maennerchor when it was the Mayfield building.

“We come every year,” she said.

Schreppel said the Maennerchor has changed locations several times over the years, but has operated continuously since 1865. The club is dedicated “to the preservation of German music and culture,” but is open to anyone, regardless of their background, he said.

The festival continues from 5 to 11 p.m. today and from noon to 6 p.m. Sunday. It is located at 5535 Flanagan Road. Admission is $5 for adults and free for children younger than 12.