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2023 Festival Schedule

SATURDAY - JULY 8

7:00 PM Genesee Valley Concert Band – Genesee Valley Concert Band will be playing a wide variety of music including patriotic numbers to celebrate the 4th of July.

SUNDAY - JULY 9

8:00 AM Alpenfest Street Sweep – Bring a broom and join the Alpenfest Committee and Black Jackets as they sweep the streets clean prior to the start of Alpenfest. Upon completion, join us in the comradery as we serve coffee and donuts and share stories and memories of past Alpenfest festivals under the Pavilion.

TUESDAY - JULY 11

11:30 AM - 1:00 PM Alpenfest Honors Luncheon and Awards Presentation - Join the Alpenfest Committee under the Pavilion as we honor several individuals who supported Alpenfest over the years. Jacket presentation to this year's Parade Marshall, Der Buergermeister, Dar Award Winner and Edelweiss Award Winner. We will also recognize our Honored Business. Entertainment by the Gaylord Alpine Band. Luncheon tickets must be purchased in advance at gaylordchamber.com/events. Tickets $25.00 adults and $10.00 children. Tickets will not be sold the day of the event. Sponsored by Fairfield Inn & Suites.

2:00 PM T. J. Schmidt Amusements - Carnival on the Midway.

3:00 PM - 4:30 PM - Art Tent - Build a Sailboat - Join us under the art tent to learn beginner carpentry skills. Using step-by-step instructions, your child will assemble and take home their project. Supplies are limited. Sponsored by Home Depot.

4:30 PM - 5:30 PM - Art Tent - Paper Plate Flowers and Coffee Filter Butterfly Art - Help us decorate the art tent! Great for all ages.

5:00 PM Alpenstrasse Opens - Featuring crafters and vendors.

5:00 PM Opening Ceremonies - At the Main Stage Pavilion, Willkommen by Mayor Todd Sharrard, and singing of National Anthem. Presentation of Colors by Ralph Holewinski VFW Post 1518, Alphorn Salute and introduction of Der Buergermeister, Dona Wishart, Honored Business, Dar and Edelweiss Awards. Also presenting our 2023 Alpenfest Queen and our 2023 Pin Design winners. 45th Parallel Dance Studio in Gaylord will close out our opening ceremonies by dancing and performing to the tune Edelweiss on the Main Stage.

5:00 PM Wurst Wagon - Under the Pavilion. Delicious hot dogs and chips are sponsored and served up hot and fresh by our finest Michigan State Police Officers.

5:00 PM Child Fingerprinting - The Michigan State Police are offering a free CD with photo, fingerprint, and voice recognition of your child under the Pavilion.

5:00 PM Ethnic Alley Opens - Taste various foods served up by our community non-profit organizations and area businesses.

5:30 PM - 7:00 PM - Art Tent - Tie-Dye Shirts - This all ages activity includes 1 free shirt and tie-dye stations. Supplies are limited. Sponsored by Key Realty

5:30 PM Alpenfest Idol Preliminary Round - Alpenfest Main Stage.

7:00 PM - 9:00 PM - Art Tent - Lampion Making - Make your Lampion for Burning of the Boogg Parade. Bring your flashlight to the art tent and we will provide the rest. Sponsored by Girl Scouts of Otsego County.

7:00 PM - 10:00 PM Power Play Detroit - Concert at the Main Stage, Power Play Detroit is dedicated to playing the most classic music of our time. Combining years of experience with youthful enthusiasm, Power Play Detroit is sure to get you moving!

10:00 PM Burning of the Böögg - Put your troubles on paper, slip them inside the Böögg and watch them go up in smoke. Trouble slips are located at the base of the Böögg under the Pavilion. Lampion and Boog parade start at 10:00 PM and continues to the corner of First Street and Center.

WEDNESDAY - JULY 12

8:30 AM Alpenfest Attire Contest - Categories for Best Dressed Family, Individual, and Child. Winners announced after the walking parade at World's Largest Coffee Break under the Pavilion. Prizes awarded in the Family Fare parking lot prior to the walking parade.

9:00 AM - Art Tent - Story Telling by Pat Enders - Gather as local teacher and author Pat Enders reads his published children's book, A Typically Random Extraordinary Day.

9:00 AM Alpenfest Walking Parade - Join the Gaylord Alpine Band led by Gary Waldo and come dressed in your finest Alpenfest attire for the annual walking parade. Parade starts at the Family Fare parking lot and ends under the Pavilion, walking down Main Street.

9:30 AM Die Groeste Kaffe Pause - The World’s Largest Coffee Break. Under the pavilion All ages welcome. Join us for coffee, donuts, and milk. Listen to the sounds of the The Gaylord Alpine Ban

10:00 AM - Art Tent - All Together Now - Create your very own Kazoo and have fun making music! Sponsored by Otsego County Library

10:30 AM Potato Sack Races On the Courthouse Lawn - Various age categories. Prizes awarded.

11:00 AM T.J. Schmidt Amusements - Carnival on the Midway. Wednesday is Kids Day.

11:00 AM - 3:00 PM - Art Tent - Alpenfest Fun Stations While you wait your turn to participate in the Alpenfest contests, stop by the art tent! Enjoy arts and crafts and fun activities, such as, the inflatable archery set. Sponsored by Jay’s Sporting Goods!

11:00 AM Alpenstrasse opens - Featuring crafters and vendors.

11:00 AM Ethnic Alley - Taste various foods served up by our community non-profit organizations and area businesses.

11:15 AM Stilt Walking Contest - On the Courthouse lawn All ages welcome. Prizes awarded.

12:00 PM Pizza Eating Contest - At the Main Stage Pavilion. All ages welcome. Prizes awarded.

12:00 PM - 1:00 PM Tommy Tropic Juggling Class - Join Tommy and the Claude Shannon Juggling Club on the Courthouse Lawn for lessons on the art of juggling and a chance to participate in the Grand Parade.

1:00 PM Chainsaw Carving Demonstration - Charity Center of Alpenstrasse near Merchandise Booth.

1:00 PM Pie Eating Contest At the Main Stage Pavilion - All ages welcome. Prizes awarded.

1:00 PM – 5:00 PM Rosco the Clown and Tommy Tropic Pavilion at the Main Stage Pavilion - Be entertained with balloon artistry, juggling, and lots of laughs.

2:00 PM Bubble Gum Blowing Contest at the Main Stage Pavilion - All ages welcome. Prizes awarded.

2:45 PM Goldfish Eating Contest at the Main Stage Pavilion - Prizes awarded.

3:00 PM - 4:00 PM - Art Tent - Decoupage Pot and Planting Decoupage clay pots and plant a seed. Decorate a 4” clay pot with magazine pictures, newspaper clippings, cut paper, and glue. Learn how to plant a seed in your pot then take it home and watch it grow! Sponsored by Conservation District

4:00 PM - 5:00 PM - Art Tent - Colorful Feelings Watercolor Painting Bring your children to participate in a fun and interactive way to express their emotions through use of watercolors. Sponsored by Gaylord Blue Devil Wellness Center

5:00 PM - 6:00 PM - Art Tent - Creative Water Color Art Stations Enhance your watercolor skills by creating bookmarks, jellyfish, personalized greeting cards, and blow paint monsters!

5:00 PM - 8:00 PM Frohliche Musiker Blasorchester Band - Concert at the Main Stage, The Fröhliche Musiker Blasorchester (FMB) is a 14-piece Bavarian-style band based in Saginaw, Michigan. Formed in 2018, they offer a high-energy, audience-interactive performance in the tradition of German Oktoberfest.

6:00 PM Alpenfest Cornhole Tournament - Courthouse lawn. Blind Draw. Cash Prize to the winner. Register on Scoreholio app or text Steve at 231-676-0248.

8:00 PM - 10:00 PM 22K Magic - Bruno Mars / Taylor Swift Tribute - Concert at the Main Stage, All your favorite songs, clean lyrics and a

whole lot of fun, this tribute is perfect for all events and age groups.

THURSDAY - JULY 13

10:00 AM Jump Rope Competition - Under Pavilion. Test your endurance and skills. All ages welcome. Prizes awarded.

10:00 AM - 11:00 AM - Art Tent - Ribbon Bracelets Learn how to make colorful and festive bracelets out of ribbons and pipe cleaners! Sponsored by Crossroads Industries

10:45 AM Hula Hoop Competition - Under Pavilion. How many times you can keep that Hula Hoop spinning? All ages welcome. Prizes Awarded. 11:00 AM Alpenstrasse opens. Featuring crafters and vendors

11:00 AM Ethnic Alley opens - Taste various foods served up by our community non-profit organizations and area businesses.

11:00 AM - 12:00 PM - Art Tent - Arts and Crafts with RSVP Join the Retired Senior Volunteers for 3 fun arts and craft stations: Peace garland, fabric wreaths and finger painting projects. Sponsored by Otsego County United Way’s RSVP

11:30 AM Ladies Ankle Competition - Main Stage. All ages welcome. Who has the thinnest? The smoothest? Prizes awarded in over a dozen categories.

12:00 PM - 1:00 PM - Art Tent - Tommy Tropic Juggling Class - Join Tommy and the Claude Shannon Juggling Club for lessons on the art of juggling and a chance to participate in the Grand Parade.

12:00 PM T.J. Schmidt Amusements - Carnival on the Midway.

12:15 PM Men’s Knee Competition - Main Stage. All ages welcome. Who has the knobbiest? Most Scarred? Most Tan? Prizes awarded in over a dozen categories.

12:30 PM – 5:00 PM Rosco the Clown and Tommy Tropic - Under the Pavilion. Entertaining Alpenfest guests for years with balloon artistry, juggling and lots of laughs.

1:00 PM La Promenade Des Biscuits - Main Stage. Join us for Gaylord's version of a cake walk.

1:00 PM Chainsaw Carving Demonstrations for Charity Center of Alpenstrasse - near Merchandise Booth.

1:00 PM - 2:00 PM - Art Tent- Heat Vase Build your personalized heart shaped vase with the Lowe’s staff. Sponsored by Lowe’s

2:00 PM - 3:00 PM Decorate Your Bike - Get ready for the bike parade and bedazzle your bike! Great for all ages! Sponsored Zonta

3:00 PM 45th Parallel Dance Team - Dancers On the Main Stage, local dance studio will be performing.

3:00 PM Bike & Trike Parade - Under Pavilion. Show off your decorated bikes with Rosco the Clown. (Bike decorating class at 2:00 p.m. under Art Tent)

3:00 PM - 4:30 PM - Art Tent - Mosquito House, Floating Ball Game, and First Aid Kits Join the boy scouts as they teach you how to craft these 3 activities! Sponsor by Boy Scouts Troop 1

4:00 PM Stone Throw Contest - North Side of Pavilion parking lot. Test your strength and see how far you can throw the stone. All ages welcome. Prizes awarded.

4:30 PM - 6:30 PM - Art Tent - Alpenfest Art Contest All ages are welcome to enter Alpenfest’s art contest! Art supplies will be provided. Ribbons and recognition will be awarded to the winners on Saturday 6:45pm under the pavilion. Sponsored by Gaylord Area Council for the Arts

5:30 PM Ice Cream Social - Under the Pavilion. Banana splits with toppings.

6:00 PM – 8:00 PM Caleb & John Concert - at United Methodist Church lawn on First & Center St.

6:00 PM Cornhole Tournament - Courthouse lawn. Cash prizes, Blind draw. Register on Scoreholio app or text Steve at 231-676-0248.

8:00 PM B2wins - Concert at the Main Stage, B2win is led by charismatic Twin brothers from Brazil, they combine a plethora of genres into a feel good performance that is equal parts rock concert, dance party, jam session and vacation for the soul.

FRIDAY - JULY 14

9:00 AM Pancake and Sausage Breakfast - Under the Pavilion. Start your day off with a pancake and sausage breakfast Sponsored by Gaylord Community Schools.

9:00AM - 9:30AM - Art Tent - Dog Obedience Training - Learn how to build focus and engagement with your dog. In this class, we will use interactive games and exercises to build value for yourself as the handler. Sponsored by One in a Million Dog Services

9:30 AM Ugly Dog Contest Registration

9:30 AM - 10:00 AM - Art Tent - Service and Therapy Dog Demos - Understand the difference between therapy dogs and service dogs, live demos and Q&A about the Therapy Dog United Program. Sponsored by One in a Million Dog Services

10:00 AM Ugly Dog Contest - Who’s the most pathetic pooch? Bring your homely hound to this event and let the judges decide. Registration and contest on the Courthouse lawn. Prizes awarded. Dogs Must Be On Leash.

11:00 AM Pet Parade - Under Pavilion. Make your pet the star of the Strasse at the Pet Parade with Rosco the Clown. Registration and parade under the Pavilion. Prizes awarded. Dogs Must Be On Leash.

11:00 AM Alpenstrasse opens - Featuring crafters and vendors.

11:00 AM Ethnic Alley opens - Taste various foods served up by our community non-profit organizations and area businesses.

11:30 AM - 1:00 PM - Art Tent - Canine Stations - Meet on the courthouse lawn for the Rally Obedience Demo by Ed Rock. Build your dog’s confidence on the agility course and mentally challenge them through Nose Work with the High Five Canine Club.

11:30 AM - 1:00 PM - Art Tent - Canine Good Citizen and Temperament Testing - Check out a live demo for both tests, Q&A, and a chance to get your dog certified as a Canine Good Citizen! Sponsored by One in a Million Dog Services

12:00 PM T.J. Schmidt Amusements - Carnival open on the Midway.

12:00 PM - 1:00 PM - Art Tent - Tommy Tropic Juggling Class - Join Tommy and the Claude Shannon Juggling Club for lessons on the art of juggling and a chance to participate in the Grand Parade.

1:00 PM Chainsaw Carving Demonstrations - for Charity Center of Alpenstrasse near Merchandise Booth.

1:00 PM - 2:00 PM - Art Tent - Friendship Bracelet Workshop - In this workshop you’ll learn various techniques to create your friendship bracelet. Supplies are limited.

1:00 PM - 3:00 PM Alpenfest Idol Finals - Main Stage. Cheer on our Alpenchainfest finalists as they go after the grand prize of becoming our 2023 Gaylord Alpenfest Idol Winner.

1:00 PM – 5:00 PM Rosco the Clown and Tommy Tropic - At the Main Stage Pavilion. Be entertained with balloon artistry juggling, and lots of laughs.

2:00 PM - 3:00 PM - Art Tent - Bubble Making Workshop - Show off your bubble making skills as you learn how to make bubble wands and recipes!

3:00 PM - 4:00 PM - Art Tent - Playdough and Slime - Make and take home slime and playdough.

4:00 PM - 5:00 PM - Art Tent - Born to Shine Crown Decorating - Calling all future Queens! Meet to create your crown and get ready to support your favorite Queen’s Pageant candidate! Sponsored by GHS Cheerleaders

5:00 PM – 7:00 PM Alpenfest Run Registration Pickup - At the North Central State Trailhead.

6:00 PM Alpenfest Queens & Alpenfest Princess Pageant - Main Stage. Local ladies will be competing for the crown and honor of becoming our 2023 Gaylord Alpenfest Queen. New this year, Alpenfest Princess!

6:00 PM Alpenfest Cornhole Tournament - Courthouse Lawn. Blind draw. Cash Prizes. Register on Scoreholio App or text Steve at 231-676-0248.

8:00 PM - 10:00 PM Family Tradition Band Concert at the Main Stage - FTB is a modern take on an old timeless classic sound which includes many traditional country elements such as fiddle, banjo and pedal steel guitar. This combined with spot-on vocal harmonies, dual electric guitars and a rock solid rhythm section, is what creates the authenticity of the band.

SATURDAY - JULY 15

9:00 AM Farmers Market - Court and First Street.

9:00 AM Alpenfest Run - Start and end at North Central State Trailhead. Bragging rights to top finishers. Free Commemorative Alpenfest Run T-shirt and medals to be first 200 runners who register. Register at runsignup.com.

Doppellauf - 7:30 AM
Alpen Half Marathon - 7:30 AM
10k - 9:00 AM
1 mile Fun Run/Walk - 9:30 AM
5K - 10:00 AM

10:30 AM - 11:30 AM - Art Tent - Make Some Noise - Prepare for the parade and create your very own noisemakers!

11:00 AM Ethnic Alley - Taste various foods served up by our community non-profit organizations and area businesses.

11:00 AM Alpenstrasse Opens - Featuring crafters and vendors.

12:00 PM Alpenfest Grand Parade - The pageantry of Gaylord’s premier parade unfolds down Main Street and Otsego Avenue.

12:00 PM T.J. Schmidt Amusements - Carnival on the Midway. 1:00PM Chain Saw Carving Demonstration for Charity Center of Alpenstrasse near Merchandise Booth.

1:00 PM - 2:30 PM - Art Tent - Kids Jam Craft Stations - Stop by for 5 fun craft stations your children will love. Sponsored by E-Free Church

1:00 PM Alpenfest Cornhole Tournament - Courthouse Lawn. Doubles, 4 games round robin to double elimination. All ages welcome. $40.00 per team. $250.00 First place prize. Register at Scoreholio app or text Steve at 231-676-0248

1:00 PM - 2:00 PM Petoskey Steel Drum Band Concert - Court and 2nd Street, The Petoskey Steel Drum Band brings a unique sound to events all over Michigan. This group of about 40 students performs a blend of Caribbean steel drum music with contemporary tunes

1:00 PM - 4:00 PM New Brass Express Concert - at the Main Stage, The New Brass Express features a group of versatile musicians who love to perform all types of music!

1:00 PM – 5:00 PM Rosco the Clown - Join Rosco as he makes his way around the festival entertaining children and families of all ages. Many Gaylord parents grew up with Rosco at Alpenfest and now their children and grandchildren are enjoying his magic of balloon artistry.

3:00 PM Strudel on the Strasse - Under the Pavilion. Join us for an Alpenfest favorite as we serve strudel to the many fans of Alpenfest.

7:00 PM - 9:00 PM Bluewater Kings Band - at the Main Stage, The Bluewater Kings Band are music experts and party starters. They infuse every event with energy and fun and pride ourselves on filling dance floors.

9:00 PM Alpenfest Comes to an End - We hope you had an enjoyable week here at the 58th Alpenfest and hope to see you again next year. Thank you on behalf of the Gaylord Area Chamber of Commerce and Alpenfest Committee.