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German American Day Festival set Saturday
German American Day

RINCON — The celebration of two rich heritages will provide a wealth of entertainment opportunities Saturday in Savannah.

The Teutonic Council of Savannah will present the German American Day Festival from 11 a.m.-3 p.m. at the DeSoto Hotel, 15 E. Liberty St. The free event will feature family fun, cultural exhibits and live German classical music.

German food and refreshments will be available for purchase.

Teutonic Council of Savannah Vice President Jim Anderson thinks the festival is worth consideration by Effingham County residents.

“The festival is about us sharing German culture with other people in Savannah,” he said. “Since the Salzburgers are such an important part of the history of Effingham County, this is a great way to support the things that they do. (The Georgia Salzburger Society) will actually have a table at the festival to show the different things that it does.”

The Georgia Salzburger Society celebrates the history and heritage of the Georgia Salzburgers, who emigrated and settled in Old Ebenezer and New Ebenezer in the early 1700s.

“There’s lots for children to do and how often do you get to eat some German brats, weinerschnitzel and have some good, old German beer? Anderson said.

The Teutonic Council formed seven years ago and this will be its third German American Day Festival.

“This is only the second one that is free and open to the public,” said Anderson, who retired three years ago as the director of international education at Armstrong College. “Last year, it attracted about five hundred people.”

The festival will begin with a concert of German and American music featuring Dr. Emily Grundstad Hall, soprano, from the Armstrong campus of Georgia Southern, and pianist, Jared Hall, as well as other local musicians. 

Food can be purchased immediately following the concert at noon. 

There will be several “sing-a-long” sessions in the afternoon. In addition, there will be cultural exhibits from the Georgia Salzburger Society, the Teutonic Council of Savannah, the City of Halle (Germany) and others.

Savannah and Halle have an agreement to participate in cultural and tourist exchanges.