Germanfest Picnic

Germanfest Picnic

Germanfest Picnic in historic St. Anne's Hill

Germanfest has been voted #3 festival in the region and was named by the Dayton Daily News as being in the top 11 food festivals in the region.

There are a few festivals that celebrate German traditions around the city, but this fest dives deeper, to give a glimpse of the German heritage that has given Dayton some of its cultural identity – all while enjoying an import beer and a schnitzel.

The Germanfest Picnic is back with all the Gemuetlichkeit and many of the activities our visitors have come to know and love: lots of that delicious homemade German food, plenty of fantastic German and domestic bier and wein, your favorite bands playing in the biergartens, the Polka Mass, Culture Display, Kinder Korner and food and craft vendors, and a new addition this year - an All-German Car Show on Sunday afternoon.

The heart of the festivities is the Dayton Liederkranz Turner Clubhouse at 1400 E. Fifth Street in one of Dayton’s original German neighborhoods, with the footprint of the festival extending to include Bomberger Park, and part of East Fifth Street from Keowee to Dutoit Streets. 

Continuous live entertainment

Patrons can enjoy continuous live music all three days featuring the Klaberheads from Hamilton, OH, Dayton favorite Band 5 and the Aaron Dussing Band out of the Cleveland area, amongst others.  A huge tent will offer plenty of shade with tables and chairs to enjoy the live music and dance floor, in addition to hosting lunch and dinner seating. 

Authentic German Fare

Tasty picnic fare includes German schnitzel, sausages, cabbage rolls, our famous potato salad, sauerkraut, sandwiches, a wide selection of beverages including a robust selection of draft and bottled German beers, homemade German desserts and ice cream, funnel cakes, Bavarian almonds, and more! 

Celebrate German Traditions

The weekend is full of activities for the whole family - beginning with the traditional Opening Ceremony on Friday evening hosted by TV2 Weather personality, Brian Davis.  The Dayton Liederkranz Turner Scholarship Award winners will be announced following the keg tapping ceremony.  Vendors will line Fifth Street, offering a wide variety of food, German clothing and souvenirs, crafts, and community information. 

Traditional Polka Mass

Enjoy a traditional Polka Mass at 10 AM on Sunday, presided over by Fr. Dave Schmitt, with live music provided by the Klaberheads Band.  TV2 Meteorologist Jamie Jarosik moderates the much-anticipated Deutsches Trachtenschau (German fashion show) where traditional German attire will be on display, at 2:30 PM on Saturday afternoon.  The Kinder Korner provides games, bounce houses and other activities for our youngest visitors.

Culture Booth

The Culture Booth is staffed by volunteers who can discuss German heritage and travel as well as the Liederkranz Turner Club itself.  The theme for this year's Culture Booth is "FAHRVERGNÜGEN: The German Love Affair with Autos" and features an actual German sports car, as well as Kranzi's Autobahn for the kids. Genealogy volunteers will also be available inside the Clubhouse to help guests investigate their German roots.

The GermanFest Picnic is a genuine German festival with authentic song, dance, food, and traditional clothing.  No other German Festival in the area celebrates and shares the region’s German heritage with such fun and entertainment.  Admission is free and open to the public with 20,000 to 30,000 attending each year. 

Directions to Dayton Liederkranz Turner Clubhouse
The Liederkranz is easy to reach, no matter what direction you are coming from. Just follow your favorite major artery to Main Street in downtown Dayton, then go east on Third Street, to right on Keowee Street to Fifth Street.

Google Maps

Where to Park
Free parking is available:

• Street parking along East Fourth Street and Bacon Street (one block north)
• Various businesses along Fourth Street and east of LaBelle Street
• Bainbridge Street (one block west)
• Holy Trinity church parking lot - Friday and Sunday only
• Stivers HS parking lots - Saturday and Sunday only
• SOITA parking lots (Keowee and Fifth Street) - all weekend long 

Look for the yellow GERMANFEST PARKING signs!

Photos: Germanfest Picnic in Dayton

Links & Tags

Dayton Liederkranz Turner

Germanfest Picnic is taking place at Dayton Liederkranz Turner, which is located at 1400 E. Fifth Street in Dayton. Dayton Liederkranz Turner - Dayton's oldest German organization. The group's purpose is to promote and preserve German culture and traditions in the Miami Valley.