Bavarian Blast facts for kids

Bavarian Blast is a super fun summer festival that happens every year in New Ulm, Minnesota, United States. It's packed with awesome bands, cool activities, and exciting attractions. The festival has grown a lot over the years!

It used to be held in the downtown area, mostly in German Park. But it got so big that it moved to the local fairgrounds. This exciting weekend event usually takes place in mid-July. It features bands from Germany, local bands, a special "Tubamania" event, a 10K race, and a parade.

In 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic meant the festival had to be canceled. But it was planned to return in 2021!

How Bavarian Blast Started

Even though Bavarian Blast is a newer festival, its roots go way back to polka music. New Ulm was once known as the "polka capital of the world"! Because of this, a summer festival called Polka Days began in 1953.

Within a few years, Polka Days became super popular. Thousands of fans came to enjoy the music. In the 1980s, the festival grew huge, with up to 80,000 people! It became a bit too big for the city to handle, so Polka Days ended in 1971.

Soon after, a new summer festival called Heritagefest started. This event was held at the fairgrounds and was a big deal for everyone in New Ulm. It even had a yearly play about Hermann, a local monument, called Hermannstraum. However, Heritagefest eventually faced money problems and also had to end.

But the tradition of a summer festival in New Ulm continued, leading to the creation of Bavarian Blast!

How Many People Attend?

Bavarian Blast is a really important event for the city of New Ulm. In 2008, the New Ulm Chamber of Commerce reported that about 6,000 people attended the festival. That's about the same number of people who come to the city's two-weekend Oktoberfest festival!

Meet the Naaren

A special group of New Ulm citizens formed a club called the "Naaren." This group is based on old German traditions. The members create their own fun costumes and wear unique, hand-carved masks. They even import these masks all the way from Germany!

While they might look a little unusual, the Naaren bring lots of joy to the festival. They always lead the dancing when the local men's choir, the Concord Singers, performs.

The Heinzelmännchen Gnomes

Get ready to meet some friendly gnomes! A family from New Ulm's Goosetown neighborhood loves to come to the festival. They are the Heinzelmännchen gnomes, and they enjoy having a great time with kids and grown-ups alike. They love to dance and have fun!

Be sure to have your camera ready, because they are always happy to stop and pose for a picture. The gnome family includes Hans and his wife Carola, their energetic son Johanne, and their shy little daughter Angelika. You might also spot Gertie the Goose with them, along with three wise mushrooms named Max, Morrit, and Meta. People say that seeing a gnome will bring you good luck for the whole year!

The Fun Run and Walk

Every year, there's a race held as part of Bavarian Blast. This run/walk starts downtown and uses New Ulm's seven miles of bike paths. The race has become very popular, especially with New Ulm's "Heart of New Ulm" project, which encourages healthy living.

In 2009, a local person even won the race wearing only bright orange shorts and his shoes!