Annual festival is deeply rooted in community and volunteerism

By Melissa Rubalcaba Riske

event called Town and Country Jamboree in early October. In 1961 the event was known as Sauerkraut Day Jamboree, with members of the St. Peter’s Church serving up German cuisine and a plate of sauerkraut and frankfurters was just a quarter. Meanwhile the swimming pool committee was grilling up hamburgers and soda at a nearby tent.

From 1963 to 1967, guests gathered in late summer for Sauerkraut and Wiener Day, which continued to serve as a community fundraiser, with food and entertainment.

When the Frankfort Chamber launched the Fall Festival on Labor Day weekend in 1968, the festival retained the fun of its earlier designs, with sack races, relay races and a picnic atmosphere, while also expanding to include artisans selling handmade items along Kansas Street and music played in the evening from the local Lincoln-Way High School band, barbershop quartets and of course German music, too.

As the community saw growth in the 1970s, so too did the annual Fall Fest. Crowds in the 1970s were estimated at around 40,000 and chamber members recall that number doubling by the 1980s. The largest event is estimated at 2004 with crowds numbering 300,000.

Each year the event grew with more visitors, more exhibitors and more activities. In 2004, there were more than 300 crafters participating in the event. The event has earned its share of recognition, from the

Governor’s Hometown Award in 1989 to the recognition of one of the top 200 festivals in the country.

Through the years the festival name has changed but the item that has remained constant since that first festival in 1935 is the incredible dedication of the volunteers. From the set up to take down, from those serving food to those booking talent and creating a schedule of events and all the volunteers who spend countless hours behind the scenes and those give time to be present and help make each festival a success.

It takes an incredible crew of volunteers to make each event a success and Frankfort is home to those who give their time, talent and love to the community to make it a success. Whether greeting a neighbor or welcoming those who travel from far to enjoy the festival, each volunteer makes an impact and helps to create a wonderful experience for everyone.