The Concord Singers worked up a large crowd at the Best Western Plus with popular American songs sung in German including “Take Me Home Country Roads, I Wanna Hold Your Hand, She Loves You,” and Una Paloma Blanca,” Spanish for white dove.

New Ulm Mayor Kathleen Backer read a proclamation that included:

“I’m very proud to welcome you to New Ulm, the city of festivals including one of the best Oktoberbests in the country. This year, were celebrating Sister Cities Weekend with Neu Ulm, Germany dignitaries and its 35-person band Blaskapelle Neu Ulm,” Backer said.

“The Sister Cities Commission of the City of New Ulm was established to broaden and strengthen cultural ties hosting a delegation and band with the City of Neu Ulm and Ulm, Germany. I urge all citizens to participate and engage with the guests from Neu Ulm and Ulm, Germany,” said Backer.

From left, Ted, Kyle and Grayson Marti deliver beer kegs the old fashioned way to the Kaiserhoff in downtown New Ulm Friday.

Lord Mayor of the City of Neu-Ulm Germany Katrin Albsteiger tapped the fest keg and poured beer.

Oktoberfest participants who danced with The Narren as The Concord Singers performed included Donna and Mark Roerick of Kimball, who celebrated their 29th wedding anniversary.

“We’ve been coming to the Oktoberfest here for 11 years. It’s an awesome event, my favorite festival,” said Roerick.

Others at Oktoberfest included Bill and Donna May Landwehr of St. Cloud, who attended the event for the 27th time. Decades ago, Bill Landwehr played drums and sang in German in the Bobby Tomboraski polka band in the St. Cloud area.

Earlier Friday, musicians sang on stage above artificial turf grass on Minnesota St. Friday afternoon between Center and 1st Street North. The artificial turf is a new Oktoberfest feature.

Donna Roerick of Kimball dances with The Narren as Oktoberfest begins at the Best Western Plus Friday.

CraftoberFest vendors on 1st Street North between Broadway and Minnesota Street included Double K’s Goat Milk Products and Sauk river Hemp CBD Products by Kris and Mike Massmann of Osakis.

CraftoberFest vendor Kim Krippner of Stewart who sells Tupperware products said she invited the Massmanns to come to the event and they took her up on the offer. They’re camping this weekend at Fort Ridgely State Park.

The business began in 2019 when a mother-daughter team began making goat milk-based lotion. The business grew to include soap and lip balm.

They advertise goat milk fats to include Vitamin A, B6, B12, C, D. E, copper and selenium which reduce wrinkles, reverse sun damage, diminish dark spots and help prevent skin damage.

CBD is advertised as being non-addictive, won’t get you high but has many possible benefits including relief from anxiety, seizures, Alzheimer’s disease, multiple sclerosis, Parkinson’s disease, stroke, arthritic, chronic and muscle pain, spinal cord injuries, even cancer.

CraftoberFest continues 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 7 and 14.

“New Ulm really has a German touch, compared to other U.S. cities. This is about the most German U.S. city I’ve ever seen,” said Blaskapelle band trombone player Manfred Fischer.

“It was beautiful scenery and very interesting. Steve loves his job,” said trumpet player Ulrich Vogt who is visiting the U.S. for the first time.

“I love it here. I’m really impressed with the wide streets in New Ulm and the landscape,” said Ulrich Vogt, who is a banker in Germany.

Events continue beginning downtown at 10 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 7 with the official keg tapping and the Concord Singers first performance on Center Street. Puppet wagon shows begin at 10:15 a.m. and continue at non, 2 p.m. and 3:30 p.m.

The Germanic-American parade begins at 11 a.m. at the Glockenspiel and continues to Center St. Center Street music includes Dain’s Dutchmen 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.,, Shirts & Skins Band 2-5 p.m.

Sauerkraut eating, yodeling and stein-holding contests take place from 1-2 p.m. Sign up at the Chamber merchandise table next to the biergarten.

A new expanded area with artificial grass on Minnesota Street will feature the Nate Frederickson Band 4-8 p.m. and DJ Strudel boy 8 p.m. to midnight at the B & L Bar.

Morgan Creek Vineyards opens at noon Saturday with wood-fired pizza, wine tasting pavilion and a mobile sauna. Grape stomper roll call and a parade to the stomp pit begins at 1 p.m. Grape stomping starts at 1:30 p.m. Uber Jazz 10 performs at 2 and 3:30 p.m.

Best Western Saturday music features the Concord Singers 1-2 p.m. and 5-6 p.m. Neu Ulm Blaskapelle performs 2:30-4:30 p.m. and 6:30-8:30 p.m. The Bockfest Boys take stage 9 p.m. to midnight. The Green Mill patio features Valley Sounds 8-10 p.m.

Gangsta Grass (hip hop bluegrass) performs 7-9 p.m. at the Grand Kabaret, 210 N. Minnesota St.

For more information, visit https://www.newulm.com.