Hundreds turned out for the German Cultural Society’s Wiener ‘N’ Schnitzel Dinner held July 16 at Donau Park in House Springs, the largest crowd to attend the annual event, organizers said.
“We had over 350 people out there, probably,” said German Cultural Society spokesman Joe Wendel. “It was a very successful version of the event. It was our 10th year having the Wiener ‘N’ Schnitzel Dinner. It was definitely a larger attendance than ever before.”
In addition to selling dinners, which included a pork schnitzel, a beef wiener, sides and a dessert.
The event also included German music and dancing, Wendel said.
“There was a brass band made up of volunteers from brass bands throughout the area,” he said. “They played polkas and waltzes, typical brass-band music.
“Dance groups performed. We had the Kindertanzgruppe, a children’s group, the Jugendgruppe, a youth group, Heimatgruppe, a young adult group, and Volkstanzgruppe, our adult group, all perform dances.”
Storms hit the area in the afternoon but came late enough to not interfere with the dinner or other festivities, Wendel said. “It was around 3:30 p.m. that the rain started coming in, but, the kitchen had pretty much sold out by then,” he said.
Wendel said the Wiener ‘N” Schnitzel Dinner has become a popular event.
“We’re very happy how this one went,” he said. “We’re hoping to do it again next year.”
Money raised at the society’s events benefit the organization, Wendel said.
“The money goes to support the club and to keep up our grounds, and it helps us put on our activities,” he said. “We’re a nonprofit organization. We also contribute to benevolent causes.”
The society plans to hold its annual Oktoberfest from Sept. 8-10 at Donau Park, 5020 West Four Ridge Road.
For more information, visit the German Cultural Society of St. Louis Facebook page or go to the society’s website at germanstl.org.