The German Mardi Gras drew a sizable crowd to the conference center at Best Western Plus. Guests purchased German foods such as soft pretzels, sausage and sauerkraut and danced to the Concord Singers and the Wendinger Band.

“Everyone that comes to these events justs loves to get out there and dance,” Green Mill General Manager Joe Romasiewicz said.

Bock Fest will take place next Saturday, March 4 for a couple of reasons. First, Schell’s Brewery would like to host the festival consistently on the first weekend of March. Because Fasching is held the last weekend before Ash Wednesday, it does not occur on a fixed date.

“It is a last hurrah before the Lenten season and usually, we have had a pretty mild winter this year, but usually people are a little cooped up and want to have a little fun,” Concord Singers’ Assistant Business Manager Randy Preisinger said.

Staff photo by Connor Cummiskey The winners of the Fasching costume contest. Second place went to Rod Karnitz (left) dressed as a lost cowboy. The third place winners were a team of three: Second Princess Tiffini Kettner (center left), Miss New Ulm Brittany Denn (center) and First Princess Madison Suess (center right). The champion of the contest was Mike Huerkamp (right) dressed as The Green Man.

Additionally there were too many conflicting events over the weekend. There was no more room for guests in the city.

“The reason why we brought it up (to Schell’s) was because we have no rooms,” Romasiewicz said. “So the whole point of why we wanted them to move it was to accommodate more people, bring more people into New Ulm.”

Aside from being the only event of the weekend, Fasching went pretty much as usual. The Narren of New Ulm danced to polkas and waltzes along with Miss New Ulm Brittany Denn, First Princess Madison Suess and Second Princess Tiffini Kettner.

The festival wrapped up with the costume parade. The Concord Singers, who organize the event, chose random judges to decide the top three costumes.

First place was awarded a free stay at Best Western Plus, second received a $50 gift certificate to the B&L Bar and third won a $30 gift certificate to the Green Mill.

Denn, Suess and Kettner came in third with Denn dressed as a firefighter and Suess and Kettner as Dalmatians.

Second went to Rod Karnitz, dressed as a lost cowboy. Mike Huerkamp took first dressed as the Green Man.

Connor Cummiskey can be emailed at ccummiskey@nujournal.com.