By JAMES BELL
Hays Post
VICTORIA—Area residents are set to gather Friday for the 40th annual Herzogfest.
The two-day event will feature traditional festivities, along with musical performances, a 5K run/walk, a parade, market and car show.
Food vendors are set to open at 11 a.m., with a keg tapping at noon, featuring The Zog, a brew made for the event by Defiance Brewing Co.
“It’s a German pilsner beer that he crafted especially for the Herzogfest, and then we worked with them and came up with the name of the Zog,” said Jennifer Pfeifer, Herzogfest vice president. “Our nickname is kind of like Zog, and so, that fit for the beer.”
“And then followed by that at 1 p.m., we'll have some Beer Olympics throughout the afternoon,” said Brenton Hoffman, Herzogfest president. “Horseshoes will start at 6. And free live music by Austin Dixon will come on at 7 p.m. The 50/50 raffle winner is between that and our headliner, The Lowdown Drifters, at 9 p.m.
Saturday’s events begin with the 5K run/walk at 7:30 a.m.
“After that, at 9 a.m. we'll be bringing back our parade,” Pfeifer said.
No registration for the parade is required.
“Just show up to be part of it,” Pfeifer said.
The Heritage Market will also start at 9 a.m. on the festival grounds, and at 10 a.m., the Herzog Hot Rod Car, Truck and Tractor Show will begin.
Other events Saturday include a cornhole tournament at 10 a.m., along with free activities for children at Kinderfest.
Valve Cover races are set for noon, and bingo at the VFW is set for 4 p.m.
“We'll start our Polka mass, followed by our Polka dance at 5 p.m.,” Pfeifer said.
Moving into the evening, at 6 p.m., a presentation of the color guard and national anthem will be performed, with a Stein Hoist to follow at 6:30 p.m.
“Around seven, our first musical talent of the night will take the stage, and that will be the Wes Cossman Band,” Pfeifer said. “We will have another 50/50 raffle between then and at 9 p.m. The Huser Brother Band will take the stage.
During the last 40 years, Hoffman said changes to the event have been made, but with the notable anniversary, the Herzogfest committee is looking to the event’s roots.
“We're trying to get back to that original tradition with all the German food vendors and just making it as free as possible as an event,” he said.
And while the committee directs the efforts, Pfiefer said the community pulls together for the event.
“Lots of different community groups will be vendors for food or help us with other things like setup and clean up,” she said. “We really appreciate the community members stepping up to help us put on a great event because we're just a committee of 10, folks. We really need the support.”
More help is always appreciated, Hoffman said.
Marking the 40th anniversary, special merchandise will be available.
“We'll have shirts, we have special 40th anniversary Stein's, buttons, a lot of a lot of various things,” Pfeifer said, “koozies, hats, a lot of fun things you can pick up to really celebrate the 40th anniversary of the Herzogfest.”
While the events are sure to be fun for participants young and old, Pfiefer said the event is about bringing the community together.
“A big goal of Herzogfest is just to keep the German heritage alive and celebrate that and keep the event free and introduce or bring lots of people into town with various different activities for people to participate in and enjoy,” Pfeifer said.
