FRANKENMUTH, MI — The 55th annual
Frankenmuth Bavarian Festival combines polka music, dancing and parades for a
weekend of fun in Little Bavaria.
“The festival celebrates our German heritage as a town,”
said Brent Weiss, 2013 Frankenmuth Civic Events Council president.
Frankenmuth Night on Thursday, June 6, kicks off the festivities with Polish and
German polka by Frankenmuth’s “Polka Riot.”
More than 50,000 people are expected to watch the 1 p.m. Sunday, June 9, parade.
The parade features marching bands, floats and the Bavarian princess.
“People loves festivals,” said Nancy Cain, AAA Michigan
spokewoman. “It’s a popular way to have fun close to home.”
In 2001, the Frankenmuth Bavarian Festival was voted top
5 festival in Michigan by AAA Michigan Living Magazine. In 2002, Frankenmuth was named among the top 10 best day trips. AAA no longer publishes the rankings.
“People are looking for a short getaway, and Frankenmuth
always comes up,” Cain said.
The highlight of the festival is the Bavarian parade that
heads down Main. This year’s parade is themed “Our family
serving your family.”
In honor of Bavarian Inn’s 125th anniversary, organizers picked Bavarian Inn Restaurant President Bill Zehnder and his
wife, Karen Zehnder, as the parade grand marshals.
“We wouldn’t have prospered for 125 years without our past
and current employees,” said Mandy Borsenik, marketing manager for Bavarian Inn.
Restaurant management invited past and present Bavarian Inn employees
to walk along with family members in the parade.
“It is only fitting that the entire team join us in the
parade. Our thousands of dedicated team members have become our family, many
through multiple generations just like us,” Bill Zehnder said in a released statement.
After the Sunday parade, Polka Riot and Sorgenbrecher will get
together for a “hang-out type” jam session.
Festival-goers will “see the community celebrating our
heritage with tradition and involvement from local groups,” Weiss said.
“We are fortunate that the local businesses do as much as
they do for this town.”
Bands will play traditional music at the pavilion in Heritage Park, 601 Weiss, and in the Sommer Garten of the
Bavarian Inn, 713 S. Main, throughout the weekend.
During Thursday’s opening ceremony, Weiss will present the
Richard G. Krafft Award to a helpful volunteer.
“Among the people involved with the festival, this award has
sentimental value and honor,” Weiss said. “It’s like getting a big thank you
from the president.”
Admission to the park grounds is free. Pavilion admission costs $2 on Thursday and $7 on
Friday and Saturday.