Several hundred people from New Ulm and the surrounding area participated in German Heritage Night, adding music, dancing, singing and cheers before and during the game.

“The Twins called us and invited us to German Heritage Night. We’re beyond thrilled,” said New Ulm Chamber of Commerce CEO/President Sarah Warmka.

Four coach busloads of fans made the trip and sat together in the third-base corner of the first deck at the game. Many other fans made the trip in their own vehicles.

Warmka said Twins representatives were so impressed with the New Ulm area delegation at the game, they’re interested in setting a German Heritage Day next year and invited them back.

Staff photo by Fritz Busch The Narren, Hailey, Bryce and Braxton Boelter sing “Take Me Out To The Ballgame” with Dain’s Dutchmen during the seventh inning stretch Friday at the Twin-Orioles game at Target Field.

“The Twins sold all 500 of the ticket packages with the German heritage hat and shirt that they had and talked about doing it again. That’s super neat. We’ve got Dain’s Dutchmen doing polka music, the Narren dancing and lots of support from fans who want to do it again,” Warmka said.

Minnesota Twins staff helped the New Ulm delegation set up tables where they gave away a number of free items including a contest to win trips to New Ulm.

Minnesota Twins Group Sales and Service Executive Jake Langer said he was very impressed with the New Ulm response to German Heritage Night.

“This would not have happened without Sarah. She really ran with it,” Langer said.

He said other similar events including Irish and Norwegian Heritage Nights were planned but that New Ulm’s response to German Heritage Night was in a class by itself.

Staff photo by Fritz Busch Bryce Boelter (also known as Hermann), left, of New Ulm meets New Ulm native and former professional baseball player and coach Terry Steinbach outside Gate 6 at Target Field Friday. Several hundred people traveled to the game and participated in German Heritage Night before and during the game. Staff photo by Fritz Busch Bryce Boelter (Hermann) leads the cheering of hundreds of German Heritage Night participants at the Minnesota Twins-Baltimore Orioles game Friday.

Bryce Boelter of New Ulm, who dresses up to portray Hermann, played a number of roles at the event. He led cheers from his stadium seat before the game and sang “Take Me Out To The Ballgame” during the seventh inning stretch.

A Minnesota Twins camera crew put video of the singing on the stadium scoreboard video screen.

Fans asked him to stop for photographs with him as he walked with his family to the Twins plaza in the seventh inning. Boelter obliged everyone who wanted photos with him. Some fans said they thought he was dressed up as a Viking.

“It’s just a good night for all of us here,” he said.

Dain’s Dutchmen band leader Dain Moldan of Sleepy Eye said it was his first visit to Target Field.

“It’s nice. I like it. It feels like Minnesota,” he said.

Baritone player Frank Sellner, who farms corn and beans near Sleepy Eye, said he was able to get away from harvesting for the event.

“My brother is harvesting right now. I’ll be back at it Saturday and for the next week or two,” Sellner said.

Drummer Mike Wendolek of Silver Lake said the event was his first trip to Target Field.

“It’s pretty cool. A lot of fun,” he said.

Keyboardist Loretta Gerasch said he’s been to Target Field before but liked the idea of coming to perform for the first time.

“I think it’s awesome. I’m so happy they called me to ask if I wanted to play with the band, represent New Ulm, be with The Narren. It’s a fun place to be. There are lots of New Ulmites that came,” she said.

New Ulm native Terry Steinbach, a three-time major league all-star now fully retired, met the New Ulm delegation outside Gate 6 as Dain’s Dutchmen played polka music.

“This (German Heritage Night with a big New Ulm group) is awesome. I think it’s a big success. There’s a lot of talk about it around town. I think it’s good. Anytime you can get a group like this in the ballpark, it gives off lots of energy. It’s great to see so many New Ulm people here,” he said.

Steinbach caught a ceremonial first pitch from several people before the game including Boelter.