Staff photo by Clay Schuldt Musician Richard Schwartz played classic rock & roll as well as classic country for the Gemütlichkeit crowds.

NEW ULM — Goosetown residents flocked to Riverside Park to celebrate the third annual Gemütlichkeit in Goosetown.

Gemütlicheit roughly translate to friendliness or welcoming. The celebration was started by the Friends of Goosetown to celebrate one of New Ulm unique neighborhoods.

Several vendors and non-profit booths were set up around the basketball court and the old Riverside School building. Visitors were free to tour the Riverside Museum in the old Franklin School House. Curator Ron Bolduan was on hand to answer any questions.

Outside the building there were several animal attractions including, snakes lizards and tortoises. The snakes were kept in containers but the three tortoises wandered the ground and proved faster than expected.

Musician Richard Schwartz provided the entertainment for the event. Schwartz currently lives in Michigan but is a New Ulm native. His mother still lives in Goosetown and he came back for the Gemülticheit celebration.

Down by the river, DNR Naturalist Scott Kudelka took a few adventurous people on canoe trips down the Minnesota Rivers from Minnecon to the Riverside Park landing.

Gemütlicheit organizers had wanted to offering canoeing the last two years, but the river was either too high or too fast. This year the water was just right.

A special motorcycle themed fund raising event was held in the park. A 1942 Army issue Harley Davidson, nicknamed “Duke” was brought to Riverside. Those making a free will donation could sit on the bike and have their photo taken with a special WWII themed backdrop.

The fund raiser was for WWII veteran Jim Clemont of Garflied, Minnesota. Clemont served aboard the destroyer USS Herndon, which engaged German pillboxes along the French coast line during the D-Day invasion, June 6, 1944.

Next June will be the 75th anniversary of the D-Day invasion and as one of the few surviving crewman of the Herndon he was invited to join. The cost to attend the reunion for Clemont is $7,000.

The Gemütlicheit celebration was a big hit with Goosetown residents. The event continues to grow each year. The only controversy that arise is question of how far the Goosetown boundary’s extend.

Organizer Tony Miller said everyone has a different answer to that question. The historical marker in the park listed Goosetown’s boundary as the Minnesota River to the east, Railroad Tracks to the west, Center Street to the north and 18th Street to the south.

Miller said he personally felt anything between the river and the railroad tracks was Goosetown.

Regardless of where you live the Gemütlicheit celebration welcomed all visitors to the family friendly celebration.