The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1906-09-23
.ACkLEY .PRIMPs FOR
'sAUERkRAUT DAY
Good Burghers of Iowa Town
Select Sept. 26 for Festival
r.. Date.
Special to Ike Journal.

Special to Ike Journal. ,... -. .':.. ~,
Ackley,. Iowa, Sept. 22.-There are
corn festivals and cotton carniyals.
fruit and flower celebrations; days set
apart in honor of the harvesting of the
products of the fields and the forests:
but perhaps the5%most unique of all
these celebrations is the annual sauer-
kraut fest, better known as sauerkraut
day, held in the little city of Ackley
in almost the center Of the hawkeye
state.
) : On this day in Ackley sauerkraut is
king, emperor and car, while by its
side rules it's boon companion, the lit
tic, weinerWurst. y =
As might be supposed, Ackley is a
town itself, where there are about
1900 inhabitants, there are but two
families not German or of German de-
scent. The city draws its business
Elargely from the rural community.
sturdy and Industrious German farm
ers, who bring the products Of their
agricultural toll to Ackley, hence the
city has ,waxed prosperous. : ;;
! German the Business, Language.
The town is called by transierlts the
German than that Illinois city. The
German language is heard more fire.
quently in it's streets than English and
to do a successful business within it's
boundaries one must be proficient with
the speech from fatheriand. All the
dialects of the German empire and Hol-
land can be found among the tongues
Of its inhabitants. There are two
German churches to two English
within the city, and in the surrounding
countryside all the churches are Ger
man.
Four years ago the business men de-
cided to set apart a day, when they
could throw open the city for the
amusement of the rural people, the
source of the towns wealth. TO all
who came to town that day free din
ner was given. On Main street huge
pavilion was built, and in it was served
huge plate Of boiled kraut, festooned
with a circle of luscious and piping
hot wenies.. WIZ.
In this community where sauerkraut
meal more delightful to the German
eye and taste could be thought Of. And
the day was called a sauerkraut fest.
and steened with the article ...S 8
-. - :. : Kraut- Eating Contest. II
:, Among the amusements there was
sauerkraut eating contest, a weinie
o"tiAS COultot, d caDDdge cnOpp1ng
match and kraut race. There were
bands furnishing German music as well
as American, there were ball games.
races and free street entertainmen A
street parade Of floats is one of the
usual features Of the afternoon, in
| which the merchants vie with each
other in producing unique effects with
| kraut, wienie and cabbage decorations
While there has been some diff,
Guilty in introducing the wienie into
the races In comatose state, not so
| when it is alive, and a; dog leading
. race, in which a multitude of:#smail
(boys, with all, kinds of black, brown.
yellow and spotted animals participate.
| is among the racing events. = !:
Something Doing Sept. 26.
| This year the date set for the fest is
Sept. -26, and many extra attractions
have been added. The town boasts of
seven automobiles and race between
them is scheduled. A substantial prize
has been offered for the best gallon of
i sauerkraut and the biggest head Of
! cabbage brought to the city on this
day., and in addition prizes are given
Ion all exhibits of farm products of
every variety. The sauerkraut eating
contest is one Of the exciting events
of the day. It takes the place Of the
pie eating contest Of the pie belt
All the town people entertain with
the 'old-fashioned German, hospitality
and everyone is welcome.