Bavarian Blast goers like it just as it is
Prefer it to bigger events
Dancers hit the floor at the KNUJ Radio Polka Hall as the Wendinger Band plays at Bavarian Blast at the Brown County Fairgrounds Friday.
Tim Olson of Orono, left, and his daughters, from left, Carly, Jenna, and Emily said they look forward to New Ulm’s Bavarian Blast each year. The three girls said they enjoy dressing as costumed characters, a gnome, goose, and morel mushroom each year.
Dancers hit the floor at the KNUJ Radio Polka Hall as the Wendinger Band plays at Bavarian Blast at the Brown County Fairgrounds Friday.
Tim Olson of Orono, left, and his daughters, from left, Carly, Jenna, and Emily said they look forward to New Ulm’s Bavarian Blast each year. The three girls said they enjoy dressing as costumed characters, a gnome, goose, and morel mushroom each year.
Trending
NEW ULM -- Recreational vehicles from Minnesota, Iowa, North and South Dakota, Missouri, even Florida were part of the Bavarian Blast crowd at the Brown county Fairgrounds Friday.
Tim Olson of Orono and his three daughters said they sadly missed last year's Bavarian Blast but they retained their trailer parking spot near the north gate.
"I've been coming to this since it was Heritagefest," said Olson, a recently retired Edina police officer. "I came here with my parents. Now my kids come down. They've been costumed character volunteers for about 10 years."
The Olson girls are become a gnome, goose, and morel mushroom in costume. They just can't refuse the annual call they get to verify if they're returning to volunteer at Bavarian Blast
"I've been to the La Crosse Oktoberfest, but this is the one shebang that we go to now. It's a great family event. They do it right. There is so much to do. We've become great friends with so many people here," Olson said.
Olson became such good friends with the Alpensterne band yodeler Jim Strehlke, he brought his band to Olson's wedding.
The girls said they enjoy wearing ice packs during the parade or in case the weather is particularly hot and humid.
"We've been here through all kinds of weather," Olson said. "One time, security woke us up in the middle of the night during a severe storm and we all got inside, under the grandstand. They even brought us beer under the grandstand."
Olson said he's been to Oktoberfest in Germany but his favorite place to visit is the Bavarian ski down of Garmsich-Partenkirchen in the German Alps.
Other campers at Bavarian Blast included Wayne Zuelch of Le Center.
"I came for the good music and food, cold beer, and nice people. I've been to bigger festivals, but didn't like them as much because they were too big. You couldn't get close to the musicians. Bavarian Blast is a nice size," Zuelch said.
"This is one helluva festival put on here," said Larry Jindra of Montgomery. "I'm here for the music. It's top rate. Everything is well organized."
"I came here with a bunch of Czechs from Montgomery and New Prague. "We have Czech fests in our towns. There is one in Montgomery next weekend. It's good to see how a different culture celebrates. Everybody is finally here to have a good time."