Bavarian Blast heads toward conclusion
The crowd honored US flag etiquette as the Bavarian Blast parade began Sunday. The parade ran from 12:30-2 p.m.
One of the Vulcan Krewe asks an attendee if they would like a mustache or V drawn on their face. The Vulcan Krewe came as representatives of the Saint Paul Vulcans community organization and the Saint Paul Winter Carnival.
A member of the Narren hugs an attendee as the group walks in the parade. The Narren have been a fixture of the festival since their debut in 1989.
Hermann the German (Bryce Boelter) interacts with a crowd of attendees at Bavarian Blast. Boelter has been appearing as Hermann since he first had the costume made for him twelve years ago.
Aleks Strehlke (left) shreds on the guitar and Jim Strehlke (right) gives a fist pump as Alpensterne performs in Schell's Tent at Bavarian Blast.
The crowd honored US flag etiquette as the Bavarian Blast parade began Sunday. The parade ran from 12:30-2 p.m.
One of the Vulcan Krewe asks an attendee if they would like a mustache or V drawn on their face. The Vulcan Krewe came as representatives of the Saint Paul Vulcans community organization and the Saint Paul Winter Carnival.
A member of the Narren hugs an attendee as the group walks in the parade. The Narren have been a fixture of the festival since their debut in 1989.
Hermann the German (Bryce Boelter) interacts with a crowd of attendees at Bavarian Blast. Boelter has been appearing as Hermann since he first had the costume made for him twelve years ago.
Aleks Strehlke (left) shreds on the guitar and Jim Strehlke (right) gives a fist pump as Alpensterne performs in Schell's Tent at Bavarian Blast.
Trending
NEW ULM-- Sunday was the final day for Bavarian Blast 2023. It featured a parade, Alpensterne, and Hermann the German.
Mollie B and Squeezebox began the day with a church service from 10-11 a.m. followed by the Municipal Band from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Then the music transitioned from the tents to the streets as the parade started in the Brown County Fairgrounds. It drew 99 different entries including the American Legion leading the way, Grand Marshall's Dodie and Pete Wendinger, the Heinzelmannchen and Narren, the newly repainted Wanda Gag House float, and the Vulcan Krewe.
Renae Sabatino was a co-chair of the parade for the third year in a row. "My husband has been president of Bavarian Blast for 14 years. You get sucked into a few things," she said.
"The people you meet and the people that come to New Ulm," Sabatino said when asked about the positives of running the parade. "The people love New Ulm. They’re all great people and it’s fun meeting new people and making new friends."
For Sabatino, her favorite part of the parade is being able to see the parade come together and play out. "Ever since I’ve been a little girl it’s been fun to just watch [parades]," she said. "Now being in charge of them, I get to see them from start to finish."
Hermann the German made appearances throughout the Blast's duration and appeared on the HermannFest float during the parade. Bryce Boelter played the role of Hermann as he has for the past 12 years, when he was first asked for a church event.
"I said yes and I thought I would do it one time," Boelter said. "I got locked up and got into it ever since. I get to meet wonderful people and fantastic musicians."
Boelter believes the best part of Bavarian Blast is the lessons it passes on to the next generation. "I enjoy the young people who are learning some of the old traditions of the German way, old traditions of New Ulm. [They] are growing up in it, respect it, and enjoy it themselves."
After the parade wrapped up, music returned to Schell's Tent. From 2-6 p.m. the Hobo Band, Alex Meixner Band, Alpensterne, and Concord Singers gave their final performances of the festival. Alpensterne, who had been performing under the tent since Friday, had their last performance from 4-5 p.m.
Alpensterne frontman Jim Strehlke said he has been coming to Bavarian Blast for around 30 years, back when it was called Heritagefest. He said the people and the festival itself are what have drawn him and the band back year after year.
"The camaraderie, the friendships and family ships we make is a huge part," Strehlke said. "It’s not just playing music, you meet so many people tied to the old school style of music New Ulm was based on. The old concertina music and the Wendinger [band] and it’s just family stuff."
Strehlke said his fondest memories of Bavarian Blast are getting to work with musicians like Bruce Bradley, Dick Ginn, and Terry Cadillac who introduced him to the music he plays today.
Strehlke hopes attendees were able to have a good time and take away fun from Alpensterne's performances at Bavarian Blast.
"The reason I do this is not for the money," he said. "I do it to hopefully entertain people. Hopefully they can step out of there going 'I didn’t have to worry about life [during] that set.'"
The festival ended with a performance by Jimmy Buffett tribute band Parrothead Paradise from 6-7:30 p.m.