Copyright 1999 St. Wolfgang's Bavarian Guild
May 8 & 9, 1999, we were in Leavenworth, Washington. All decked out in its spring finery, Leavenworth was the location for their 28th Maifest Celebration, held on Mother's Day weekend. Part of the celebration seems to be the citizenry demanding that winter finally loose its icy grip on the town and let spring and summer begin. While we were there, there was still some snow on the ground in shady places, on the surrounding mountains, and falling from the sky during Saturday morning's parade.
Over 30 members of St. Wolfgang's Bavarian Guild set up two of the guild's large pavilions, the puppet stage and assorted furniture and props for the celebration of the Duke and Duchesses Picnic, sponsored by the Leavenworth Chamber of Commerce, which featured court protocol, a performance of the rod puppet play The Pretzel-Crossed Lovers, Gutmitton, our guild's version of Badminton, Floquet (croquet), and German Bratwurst for all.
There were also two parades through the downtown old Bavarian section of Leavenworth, with all the members of St. Wolfgang's dressed in their finest costumes, marching alongside two giant puppets of Oden and Frig.
Most of our guild members stayed at the Leavenworth Thousand Trails compound in campers and trailers. Propane and electric heaters kept us toasty warm in our campers and trailers as the nighttime temperatures dropped into the twenties, freezing our water connections.
Many thanks and a Huzzah to Ken Overton, Steve Overton and Dan DeMoy for all their help in making the Duke's Picnic such a success.
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