Saengerfest to feature German singing groups

Cole Camp’s 18th annual Saengerfest will be this weekend and feature seven German singing groups from throughout the Midwest.
Neil Heimsoth, of Cole Camp, is in charge of the event.

“It’s just an evening of great German choral music,” Heimsoth said.

Groups from Tulsa, Okla., St. Louis, Kansas City  and Cole Camp will be singing traditional German party songs and classical tunes.

Heimsoth said Saengerfest, also known as a singer’s festival, will begin at 3 p.m. Saturday at the Jaycee Gardens in downtown Cole Camp.

The event is sponsored by the Low German Club of Cole Camp. The Cole Camp Damenchor (women’s choir) and  Mannerchor (men’s choir) will perform  throughout the evening.

“We decided we wanted to show the public there is more to the German culture than a beer garden,” Heimsoth said.

Groups will take a short break at 4 p.m. and begin singing again at 5:30 until 8 p.m.

Heimsoth said people will be able to join in and sing “The Star-Spangled Banner” and “America the Beautiful.” All other songs will be performed in German.

“It’s just a nice evening in the park,” Heimsoth said.

The event is free to attend. For more information about Saengerfest, visit Cole Camp’s Web site at www.colecampmo.com.
chudson@sedaliademocrat.com

IF YOU GO

What: Saengerfest
When: 3 to 8 p.m. Saturday
Where: Jaycee Gardens, downtown Cole Camp
Cost: Free