Celebrate German Heritage In Waunakee At The 20th Annual Wauktoberfest 

It was a chance for locals to put on their Lederhosen and DirndL, eat some brats, drink German beer and polka. That is how Sam Ballweg describes the origins and motivation for the very first Wauktoberfest. Ballweg, president of Endres manufacturing, the company which has hosted the German festival since its’ beginnings in 2004, describes a moment in Waunakee history when a couple of guys got together over beers and wondered why Waunakee, a town with a large Germanic population did not have an Oktobefest. At the time, there was no German festival to speak of in South Central Wisconsin. These men, Sam’s dad Ken included, who founded the Waunakee Community Foundation created Wauktoberfest not only for Gemütlichkeit but to sell brats, hot dogs, and beers to raise money for local charities and non-profits.

Even before the 1^st Wauktoberfest, Sam Ballweg’s grandfather Larry Endres Jr. recognized the prominence of Waunakee’s German diaspora and lobbied for adopting a more Bavarian theme architecture for downtown storefronts. Unfortunately, the Germanic esthetic wasn’t as widely adopted as  Grandpa Endres had hoped for, but he was not  deterred. Endres manufacturing’s HQ was located iconically at the front door to downtown Waunakee the perfect spot to showcase Germanic themed architecture. The Bavarian aesthetic was incorporated not only into the main administrative building but the metal gates that border the company’s property serving as a gateway to Waunakee and tribute to the town’s Germanic diaspora.  The iconography is so convincing that Sam Ballweg says people often stop by asking for a menu thinking the company is a German restaurant , or a sausage and cheese store.

What’s new for the 20th year 2024?

This Thursday, September 12th through Sunday, September 15th, readers will have a chance to see those beautiful wrought iron gates up close when they visit Wauktoberfest. 2024 marks the festival’s 20^th year, and to celebrate the anniversary Mary Jo Gatzke, the chair of the Wauktoberfest Committee says there are lot of new attractions added. For starters, no more grass for polka dancers, there is a brand,  new wooden floor premiering. The  People’s Brother Band is performing, Copper Box, and 2/5^th’s Band as well as appearing at Wauktoberfest for the first time. Another first time is Leberkase grilled sandwich like a German bologna sandwich, the lions and Jaycees got from the Bavarian sausage house. Klaussen's pretzels, Dorf Haus, German caterer (Highway Cafe) will be bringing in old recipes from Germany. And bier, 2024, for the 20^th anniversary will feature a one-liter glass stein. And the old fest favorites like Beer Yoga, the Dachshund Dash, Sunday Sausage Shuffle, Limburger cheese eating contest, and always popular Bakeoff. And many many other attractions which you can find on the Wauktoberfest, website and don’t forget to polka.

“It’s one of my favorite events of the year,” Sam Ballweg says mentioning how  great it is to see his grandmother excited to get out on the dance floor and polka.