Schedule of Events

New! Click here to see a map of events and get directions. German American Day Event Map

Date Time Event Location
9/27/08 2:00 pm German-American Steuben Parade Frankford Avenue between Welsh Road and Knorr Street in Northeast Philadelphia
9/27/08 12:00 pm - 3:00 pm Tour of the Speaker’s House, home of Frederick Muhlenberg, first Speaker of the House of Representatives.  Visitors will be given a rare glimpse of the property in its pre-restoration state.  Tours will explain both Muhlenberg’s contributions to the development of American democracy and illustrate how historic architects analyze a house for clues that tell  how a property has evolved over time. While not as well-known as his peers, Frederick Muhlenberg was present on the balcony of Federal Hall while George Washington was sworn in as President.  Muhlenberg was elected as Speaker because of his political experience but also because he would be able to bring out German-speaking voters.  Upon hearing the news of Muhlenberg’s successful election, the German-language Philadelphia paper proclaimed that “the blood of the grandchildren of our grandchildren will proudly well up in their hearts when they read in the histories of America that the first Speaker of the House…was a German, born of German parents in Pennsylvania.”    The Speaker's House
151 West Main Street
Trappe, PA
9/27/08 -


9/28/08
4:00 pm - 10:00pm

noon  - 10:00pm
Bavarian Oktoberfest.   Philadelphia's premier Oktoberfest.  Enjoy the festive sounds of Bavarian music, the traditional foods and Schuhplattler dancing under the big tent.
The United German Hungarian Club
4666 Bristol Road,
Oakford, PA
9/27/08 to 10/7/08 10:00 am
11:00 am
12:00 pm
1:00 pm
2:00 pm
Guided Tours of PA German and
German Art

Tours are free after Museum admission and meet at the West Information Desk.
Philadelphia Museum of Art
2600 Benjamin Franklin Parkway
9/27/08 10:00 am to 3:00 pm Oktoberfest!   A celebration of German traditions with games for children, square dance performances, and German food, music and crafts. Augustus Lutheran Church
717 West Main Street
Trappe, PA
9/27/08
9/28/08
1:00 pm to 5:00 pm Exhibit of German Language Bibles, including Sauer Bibles, from the collection of the Germantown Historical Society. Germantown Historical Society
5501 Germantown Avenue
Philadelphia
9/28/08 3:00 pm Keystone State Boychoir Concert
Performing selections from the 2008 European concert tour, which includes performances in Heidelberg and Vienna, and other favorites.
First Presbyterian Church of Germantown
35 West Chelten Avenue, Philadelphia
9/28/08 4:00 pm Dedicatory Organ Recital in celebration of the new Aeolian Skinner organ.  Guest organist Ken Cowan will be performing traditional German hymns.  (The old Augustus Lutheran Church is the oldest unchanged Lutheran church still in use in the United States of America. The congregation was organized in 1730.  Arriving in November 1742, The Reverend Dr Henry Melchior Muhlenburg had the church built in 1743 to his specifications.) Augustus Lutheran Church
717 West Main Street
Trappe, PA
9/30/08 6:00 pm German Winetasting sponsored by the German-American Chamber of Commerce - Philadelphia Sheraton Society Hill
2nd and Walnut Streets, Philadelphia
10/1/08 TBA German-American Fest for area high school and university students of German!
Sponsored by the University of Pennsylvania,  the German-American Day Celebration Committee and the German Society of PA.  Imagine: a theatrical performance of a play about Benjamin Franklin and Christoph Sauer, a successful German-language printer who competed with Franklin in Philadelphia.  In addition, a wide array of hands-on workshops focused on all kinds of aspects of German- American life: from the early German community in Philadelphia to German exile filmmakers and actors in Hollywood, from Ephrata to Germantown will be offered.
German Society of Pennsylvania
611 Spring Garden Street,
Philadelphia
10/1/08 9:00 am to 2:00 pm The Speaker’s House, home of Frederick Muhlenberg, first Speaker of the House of Representatives, will be open for school tours.  The Speaker’s House, home of Frederick Muhlenberg, first Speaker of the House of Representatives, offers a fascinating look at a historic property in its pre-restoration state.  Tours will discuss the role of Muhlenberg in the early formation of the American political system and the on-going research that allows visitors to see layers of construction pealed back to reveal how the house evolved architecturally over time.  This tour is most appropriate for grades 5 and up and can accommodate a maximum of 33 students.  It is, unfortunately, not wheelchair accessible at this time.  Classes are welcome to picnic on our grounds before or after their tour.   For more information and to schedule a visit, please call 610.489.2105. The Speaker's House
151 West Main Street
Trappe, PA
10/1/08 See right Oktoberfest Celebration presented by the Geographical Society of Philadelphia.
A bounteous Bavarian feast in a Rathskellar setting. Lunch served at 12:45pm  and dinner at 5:45pm. Each meal is followed by the BEST OF BAVARIA film and presentation by producer, Fran Reidelberger. Experience the Romantic Road... storybook towns... King Ludwig's castles... Mittenwald... the spa at Bad Tölz... Regensburg... Bamberg... beer brewers... hang gliders.  Presentation at 2:00pm and 7:30pm.
Racquet Club of Philadelphia
215 South 16th Street
Philadelphia
610.649.5220 or email geosocphil@aol.com
10/1/08 3:00 pm to 6:00 pm Early German-American History Symposium.  Lectures include: The First Germans in America, Pennsylvania's Immigrant Recruitment in Germany, The Life of German-Americans in the late 18th century, and The Contributions of the Mühlenberg Family. German Society of Pennsylvania
611 Spring Garden Street,
Philadelphia
10/2/08 7:00 pm



9:00 pm
Film Presentation "Germans in America"
Part 1, "Into the Promised Land"

Part 2, "The Price of Freedom"
German Society of Pennsylvania
611 Spring Garden Street,
Philadelphia
10/3/08

10/4/08

10/5/08
10:15 am
12:15 pm
10:15 am
2:00 pm
11:00 am
2:00 pm
Sonne, Sterne, Mond & Co., (Sun, Stars, Moon & Co.) a musical space journey and laser show for children and the entire family.  A production  of the Leo Borchard Musikschule of Berlin.  Fels Planetarium of the Franklin Institute Science Museum.
222 North 20th Street, Philadelphia
10/3/08 10:00 am Dedication of the German immigration Mural and Historical Marker German Society of Pennsylvania
611 Spring Garden Street,
Philadelphia
10/3/08 10:30 am Tour of Masonic Temple and presentation about the German Lodges in PA by Dr. Glenys Waldman, Senior Librarian of the Masonic Library and Museum of PA Masonic Temple
One North Broad St.
Philadelphia
10/3/08 12:00 to 2:00 Mayor's Reception and Proclamation Reading Mayor's Reception Room
City Hall, Philadelphia
(akarnas@aol.com
10/3/08 3:00 pm Songs of the Minnesingers and Instrumental Dances concert German Society of Pennsylvania
611 Spring Garden Street,
Philadelphia
10/3/08 5:45 to 6:45 and 7:15 to 8:15 Art After Five:
featuring the art and music of Germany. 
The cabaret scene of 1920's Berlin and a film featuring the Weimar era will be highlighted.
Philadelphia Museum of Art
2600 Benjamin Franklin Parkway
10/3/08 7:00 pm



9:00 pm
Film Presentation "Germans in America"
Part 3, "Little Germanies"

Part 4, "A People Disappear"

German Society of Pennsylvania
611 Spring Garden Street,
Philadelphia
10/4/08 10:00am  to 4:00 pm German Colonial Cooking Program Historic RittenhouseTown
206 Lincoln Drive
Philadelphia
10/4/08 8:00 am to 2:00 pm 5 and 10K German-American Day Walk
(Proceeds benefit the German-American Heritage Center in Washington, D.C.)
German Society of Pennsylvania
611 Spring Garden Street,
Philadelphia
10/4/08 4:00 pm to 7:00 pm Oktoberfest at Grumblethorpe, the home of John Wister.  Enjoy the traditional tastes and sounds of Bavaria in the country-like setting of this historic Germantown landmark.  Grumblethorpe
5267 Germantown Avenue
Philadelphia
215.843.4820
10/4/08
10/5/08
11:00 am
2:00 pm
German-American Day at Winterthur, a great American country estate nestled in the heart of Delaware's beautiful Brandywine Valley. Explore the Collections: View American furnishings from the 1600s to the 1800s in the inviting rooms designed by H. F. du Pont. This tour includes an outstanding collection of colorful Pennsylvania-German folk art. (One-hour small group tour for guests ages eight and above.) Winterthur Museum and Country Estate
Route 52
(5105 Kennett Pike)
Winterthur, DE  19735
Please call the Winterthur Information and Tours Office for and tickets. 302.888.4600; 800.448.3883; TTY 302.888.4907
10/4/08 11:00 am Oktoberfest and Street Festival with Marnie Old German Society of Pennsylvania
611 Spring Garden Street,
Philadelphia
10/4/08
10/5/08
1:00 pm to 5:00 pm Exhibit of German Language Bibles, including Sauer Bibles, from the collection of the Germantown Historical Society. Germantown Historical Society
5501 Germantown Avenue
Philadelphia
10/4/08 7:00 Group Motion. Modern Dance Performance, directed by Manfred Fischbeck German Society of Pennsylvania
611 Spring Garden Street,
Philadelphia
10/5/08 11:00 am German Ecumenical Worship Service Immanuel Lutheran Church
14100 Worthington Rd.
Philadelphia
10/5/08 12:00 pm to 8:00 pm Oktoberfest.  The first St. Peter's Oktoberfest will feature German food, drink, music and entertainment for young and old.   A 42" plasma HDTV will be raflled off that day also. St. Peter's Ev. Lutheran Church
Main and Church Streets,
North Wales, PA
215.699.4604
10/5/08 3:00 pm Landesjugendorchester Rheinland-Pfalz Performance of Elgar, Beethoven and Mendelssohn German Society of Pennsylvania
611 Spring Garden Street,
Philadelphia
10/6/08 10:00 am

 

 


 

12:00 pm







2:30 pm



7:00 pm

German-American Day 2008
Wreath laying ceremony at the Pastorius Monument
in Vernon Park in Germantown to commemorate the arrival of the first German-speaking families from Krefeld in 1683 and their founding of Germantown, the first permanent German settlement. For more information, call 215.947.5490.

Commemorative Luncheon highlighting the 325th anniversary, recognizing the German roots of the Rohm and Haas Company, and honoring the philanthropic activities of the Haas family. To reserve your tickets, click here.

"AMERIKA, GIBT ES ODER GIBT ES NICHT". A play by the KRESCH theater company of Krefeld, Germany.

Landesjugendorchester Rheinland-Pfalz Concert
Vernon Park
5818 Germantown Avenue
Philadelphia







Union League
140 South Broad Street
Philadelphia




German Society of Pennsylvania
611 Spring Garden Street

German Society of Pennsylvania

10/1/08
through
10/4/08
all day Book Sale German Society of Pennsylvania
611 Spring Garden Street,
Philadelphia
10/3/08
through
10/6/08
all day Open House Gartenfest with food, drink and merriment German Society of Pennsylvania
611 Spring Garden Street,
Philadelphia
10/8/08 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm German American Women's Activism: Constructing Gender Roles and Ethnic Identity.  A talk given by Dr. Anke Ortlepp, Research Fellow, German Historical Institute, Washington, D.C. A reception will follow the talk. For more information, please call 215.947.5490. Max Kade German Culture and Media Center at the University of Pennsylvania, 3401 Walnut Street, Room 329A, Philadelphia.  (Entrance is next to Starbucks)