Why Go Anywhere Else?-- Part 5: Johnsburg's Saufen und Spiel

SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 8

The first weekend after Labor Day in Johnsburg, Illinois, about four miles south of us in Spring grove, is the annual Saufen und Spiel.  Saufen means to drink and spiel means games.  It is kind of an Oktoberfest celebration by different name.  Johnsburg and Spring Grove were settled by many German immigrants so it is a heritage thing.

Saturday is Banjo Beer Night, featuring three bands and lots of beer.

Sunday is the big day, with a parade, oompah/polka band inside, a regular band outside and a cow drop where you can make some money depending upon which square the cow lets loose.  This year we didn't make it over to Sunnyside where we usually watch the parade because of rain drizzle earlier.

Liz didn't want to go to it when we drove to the Johnsburg Community Club grounds so I dropped her off at Sunnyside Tavern and went the short distance to the grounds and parked.  The band Epics was playing outside and doing classic rock from the 80s and doing it very well.  About half of the Sunnyside regulars were over here as well as some of my Fox Lake Sons of the American Legion.

The highlight was definitely the performance by Milwaukee's Glockenspiel group which is essentially a recreation of a German Black Forest clock scene with people drinking, working, making music and doing German dances like Chevy Chase in "European Vacation."  Go to You Tube and type in "Glockenspiel Germanfest to see it.  Be prepared to spend about 17 enjoyable minutes.

Afterwards I went back to Sunnyside where I found a couple large farm tractors parked outside.  Johnsburg and Spring Grove still have a lot of farms.

It was a mighty fun day.

--RoadKraut