PA German Dialect Community Events - 2023

Sponsored by Pennsylvaanisch Deitsch Fersommling vun Baerricks Kounty & The Heritage Center

For additional copies, send long, self-addressed stamped envelope to:

PA German Cultural Heritage Center

22 Luckenbill Road, Kutztown, PA 19530

OR

Marianne H. Kline, 717.866.3443

271 StoneRidge, Myerstown, PA 17067

franc4698@msn.com

To list your dialect event or make additions or corrections to the 2023 calendar, contact the names above on or before November 1st, 2022.

  • JANUARY

    06 – Pennsylvania German Hour - BCTV - Comcast Channel 15 - 10:00 a.m.

    13 – New Year Wishing – Mike & Linda Hertzog Cedar Lutheran Church, Allentown - 10:30 a.m.

    15 – Grundsau Lodge No. 17; Fersommling No. 41, Mt Zion Fire Co., Myerstown - 6:30 p.m. Conact Edwin Engle, 717-336-6108

    17 – Grundsau Lodge No. 17; Fersommling No. 38, Mt Aetna Fire Co. - 6:43 p.m.

    18 – PG Dialect and Kultur Society - CountryFare, Myerstown - Breakfast 6:30 a.m. - Meeting 8:00 a.m.

    20 – Grundsau Lodge No. 4; Fersommling No. 73, Benner Hall, Quakertown - 6:30 p.m. Contact Robert Esten, 215-370-5461

    26 – Grundsau Lodge No. 15; Fersommling No. 56, Kutztown Fire Co., Kutztown - 6:30 p.m. Contact Donald Peters, 610-554-7017

    29 – Groundhog Day for Kids, Midway Diner, 1:30 p.m. - 3:00 p.m.

    31 – Grundsau Lodge No. 9; Fersommling No. 67, Dublin Fire Co. - 6:30 p.m. Contact Timothy Freed, 215-258-0331

  • FEBRUARY

    02 – Will “Uni” see his shadow? Union Canal, Myerstown - 8:00 a.m.

    02 – Grundsau Lodge No. 1; Fersommling No. 85, Schnecksville Fire Co. - 6:30 p.m. Contact Bill Meck, 610-966-2704

    03 – Pennsylvania German Hour - BCTV - Comcast Channel 15 - 10:00 a.m.

    04 – Grundsau Lodge No. 11; Fersommling No. 64, Polk T. Fire Co., Kresgeville - 6:30 p.m. Contact Leonard Breiner, 610-824-7414

    15 – PG Dialect and Kultur Society - CountryFare, Myerstown - Breakfast 6:30 a.m. - Meeting 8:00 a.m.

    25 – Grundsau Lodge No. 6; Fersommling No. 71, Polk T. Fire Co., Kresgeville - 6:30 p.m.

  • MARCH

    03 – Pennsylvania German Hour - BCTV - Comcast Channel 15 - 10:00 a.m.

    03 – Grundsau Lodge No. 16; Fersommling No. 50, Schnecksville Fire Co. - 6:30 p.m. Contact David Adam, 610-395-4282

    11 – Grundsau Lodge No. 18; Fersommling No. 30, Emerald Fire Co. - 6:30 p.m. Contact Roy Dengler, 610-767-3489

    15 – PG Dialect and Kultur Society - CountryFare, Myerstown - Breakfast 6:30 a.m. - Meeting 8:00 a.m.

    17 – Grundsau Lodge No. 14; Fersommling No. 59, East Greenville Fire Co. - 6:30 p.m. Contact William Young, 610-395-4282

    18 – PA German Zammelaaf - Trainer's Midway Diner, Bethel - 10:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.

    28 – Grundsau Lodge No. 13; Fersommling No. 59, East Greenville. Fire Co., Kresgeville - 6:30 p.m. Contact Barry Miller, 610-967-4836

    18 – Opening Event for 300th Celebration of German families coming to the Tulpehocken Territory, Christ Lutheran Church, Stouchsburg - 2:00 p.m.

  • APRIL

    01 – Easter on the Farm - PA German Cultural Heritage Center, Kutztown - 11:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.

    07 – Pennsylvania German Hour - BCTV - Comcast Channel 15 - 10:00 a.m.

    08 – Grundsau Lodge No. 10, Fersommling No. 66, Polk T. Fire Co., Kresgeville - 6:30 p.m. Contact Kenneth Oswald, 610-767-1358

    10 – Baerricks Kounty Fersommling, No. 80, Leesport Auction Hall - 5:30 p.m.

    15 – Grundsau Lodge No. 8, Fersommling No. 68, New Ringgold Fire Co., Robert Nestor - 6:30 p.m. Contact Kenneth Oswald, 610-756-6006

    19 – PG Dialect and Kultur Society - CountryFare, Myerstown - Breakfast 6:30 a.m. - Meeting 8:00 a.m.

    21 – Grundsau Lodge No. 7, Fersommling No. 70, East Greenville Fire Co. - 6:30 p.m. Contact Ronald Marx, 610-845-2525

    23 – Dialect Service, Zoar Lutheran Church 360 Freeport Rd., Lebanon - 2:30 p.m.

    26 – Grundsau Lodge No. 7, Fersommling No. 68 East Greenville Fire Co. - 6:30 p.m.

    28 – Unner Mahanoy un Nochberschaft, Fersommling, Mountainside Community Center - 5:45 p.m.

    29 – 300th Anniversary of Tulpenhocken self directed Church tour of 17 churches

  • MAY

    02 – Nicholas Stoltzfus Home Benefit Auction, 1700 Tulp. Rd., Wyomissing - 9:00 a.m.

    02 – PA German Zammelaaf - Virginville Grange - 12:00 p.m.

    05 – Pennsylvania German Hour - BCTV - Comcast Channel 15 - 10:00 a.m.

    12 – Grundsau Lodge No. 12; Fersommling No. 62, Mt Aetna Fire Co. - 6:43 p.m. Contact Dennis Hamm, 610-488-5468

    17 – PG Dialect and Kultur Society – CountryFare Myerstown - Breakfast 6:30 a.m. - Meeting 8:00 a.m.

    21 – 300th Anniversary of Tulpenhocken Territory Trilogy of brief church service Dieffenbach organ, Altalah Church, Rehrersburg - 2:00 p.m.

  • JUNE

    02 – Pennsylvania German Hour – BCTV Comcast Channel 15 - 10:00 a.m.

    08 Pennsylvania German Society 130th Annual Conference at Guthrie Library, Hanover - 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.

    24 – 300th Anniversary of Tulpenhocken Territory PA German Day Celebration, Mt. Aetna Fire Co. - 4:00 p.m.

    24 – Cherry Fair & Early American Craft Show, Farm Historic Schaefferstown - 10:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.

  • JULY

    07 – Pennsylvania German Hour – BCTV – Comcast Channel 15 - 10:00 a.m.

    11-12 – Hessian Day - History, Genealogy at Valley View Park, July 11 - 9:00 a.m.- 4:00 p.m., July 12 - 10:00 a.m.- 4:00 p.m. Contact Dan Schwalm (570)648-4095

  • AUGUST

    04 – Pennsylvania German Hour – BCTV – Comcast Channel 15 - 10:00 a.m.

    11-12 – 54th Goschenhoppen Folk Festival Antes Plantation, Frederick

    26 – Farm Festival - Historic Dreibelbis Farm, Virginville - 10:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.

  • SEPTEMBER

    01 – Pennsylvania German Hour – BCTV – Comcast Channel 15 - 10:00 a.m.

    10 – Pennsylvania German Dialect Service - Wenger Meetinghouse, Jonestown - 2:30 p.m.

    16-17 – Fall Harvest Fair - PG Food & Craft - Farm Historic Schaefferstown - Aug. 16 - 10:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m., Aug. 17 - 11:30 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.

    20 – PG Dialect and Kultur Society - CountryFare, Myerstown - Breakfast 6:30 a.m. - Meeting 8:00 a.m.

    23 – Heemet Fescht - PA German Cultural Heritage Center, Kutztown University 11:00 a.m - 4:00 p.m.

    24 – Old Dry Road Farm Festival - 11:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.

    30 – Belleman’s Church Dialect Service, Mohrsville, 2:30 p.m. Turkey & Waffle Supper - 4:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m.

  • OCTOBER

    06 – Pennsylvania German Hour – BCTV – Comcast Channel 15 - 10:00 a.m.

    06 – GERMAN-AMERICAN DAY

    07 – West Berks County Fersommling #37 St. Paul’s UCC, Robesonia - 5:00 p.m.

    14 – 300th Anniversary of Tulpenhocken Celebration continuation of tours from April 29

    18 – PG Dialect and Kultur Society - CountryFare, Myerstown - Breakfast 6:30 a.m. - Meeting 8:00 a.m.

  • NOVEMBER

    03 – Pennsylvania German Hour – BCTV – Comcast Channel 15 - 10:00 a.m.

    05 – Dialect Service - Weisenberg Lutheran Church New Tripoli - 2:30 p.m.

    08 – Oley Valley Fersommling Oley Fair Centre, Oley - 12:30 p.m.

    15 – PG Dialect and Kultur Society - CountryFare, Myerstown - Breakfast 6:30 a.m. - Meeting 8:00 a.m.

    30 – Kerzenlicht Nacht with PA German Singing Meier Haus, Myerstown - 6:30 p.m.

  • DECEMBER

    01 – Pennsylvania German Hour – BCTV – Comcast Channel 15 - 10:00 a.m.

    02 – Christmas on the Farm - PA German Cultural Heritage Center, Kutztown - 11:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.

    02 – German Candlelight Christmas Service Huffs Union Church - 7:00 p.m.

    03 – A Pennsylvania German Christmas Wenger Meetinghouse, Jonestown - 3:00 p.m.

    20 – PG Dialect and Kultur Society - CountryFare, Myerstown - Breakfast 6:30 a.m. - Meeting 8:00 a.m.

Dialect Classes & Conversation Groups

BERKS & LEHIGH

  • Community Dialect Classes, PA German, (610) 683-1589 • heritage@kutztown.edu
  • Longswamp Dialect Class, Contact Fred Fritsch (610) 682-6729
  • Belleman’s Church Dialect Class, Contact John Rausch (610) 488-1400
  • Oley Valley Pennsylvania German Club – Friedens UCC, 337 Main St., Oley, PA. Meets bi-monthly (1st & 3rd Mon.) 7:00 p.m. For more details call Jeff Shearer at (610) 921-2896
  • PA Dutch Conversation Class, Jordan Lutheran Church, 5103 Snowdrift Road, Orefield, PA 18069, Runs Tues Jan 15 through April 9, Contact Jean & Dave Adam 610-395-4282
  • Pennsilfaanish Deitsch Friends Group - St. Peter’s Lutheran, 1933 Hanover Avenue, Allentown (610) 264-2979. Meets monthly (Sept. - May, 3rd Thursday). Picnic in June.

 

LANCASTER, LEBANON & BEYOND

  • Dialect Class - Lancaster Mennonite HS, (717) 393-9745 • www.lmhs.org
  • Schaefferstown Dialect Class, Contact Alice Oskam 717-866-5242
  • PA German Dialect Conversation Group Matthews Library, Fredericksburg 6:30 p.m. - 7:45 p.m. Meets monthly (2nd Tuesday, except July). Contact Alice Spayd at (717) 933-5511
  • PA German Dialect Conversation Group, Muddy Creek Library, Fairmont Nursing Home, Ephrata, PA. Meets monthly (1st or 2nd Friday) 6:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m. Contact Keith (Butch) Reigart (717) 318-6420
  • Shamokin Dialect Class, Contact N. Daniel Schwalm, (570) 648-4095

 

Pennsylvania Dutch 101:

Online with Doug Madenford

Co-author of the new dialect textbook Schwetz Mol Deitsch, Doug Madenford offers a series of online lessons in the dialect. Watch them at: www.youtube.com/user/dmadenford/video

  • Dialect Newspapers, Columns, & Newsletters
    • “Es Pennsilfaanisch Deitsch” – Ephrata Shopping News – weekly by C. Richard Beam
    • “Es Neinuhr Schtick” – Schuylkill Haven Call - weekly by Earl Haag
    • “Es Neinuhr Schtick” – Pine Grove Herald Press - weekly by Earl Haag
    • “Die Schnitzelbunk” – Town & County, Pennsburg – weekly by Carl Arner
    • “En Brief vun Da Bauerei” – Citizen’s Standard monthly by Aent Polly
    • Historic Schaefferstown Record, Historic Schaefferstown, Inc.
    • Goshenhoppen Historical Newsletter Goshenhoppen Historical Society
    • Die Botschaft vun die Dolpehock (Trianual)
    • Deitsch Dialect un Kultur Society – Marianne Kline, Editor
    • En Brief – Pa. Dutch Heritage Group Monthly – Rachael Gromling, Editor
    • Journal of the Center for PA German Studies – quarterly, Millersville University

     

    Der Pennsylfaanisch Deitsch Schtunn, featuring the Nei Dolpehock Sanger Chor

    Berks Community Television, Channel 2

    1st Friday of each month – 10:00 a.m.

    Replays – Sat. 9 p.m.; Sun. 10 a.m.; Tue. 2:00 p.m.

    or online: www.bctv.org