A fundraiser is among the festivities along with food and fun at the third annual Frühlingsfest.
From noon to 4 p.m. May 13 on the second day of the Knights of Columbus Council 1252’s two-day festival, a dunk tank will be set up in the B&O Railroad Parking Lot behind the KofC building in downtown Seymour with proceeds benefiting Gibault Children’s Services of Terre Haute.
Founded in 1921 by the Indiana Knights of Columbus, Gibault is a home for wayward boys that over the years has evolved to meet the needs of at-risk youth everywhere, according to gibault.org. Today, Gibault serves boys and girls and has provided life-changing opportunities for more than 10,000 children and their families.
Gibault serves children with mild emotional disturbances, aggressive and oppositional behaviors, substance abuse issues, victims and perpetrators that exhibit sexually harmful/reactive behavior, learning disabled children and children with a variety of clinical issues in residential and community-based environments.
This is a cause the Knights of Columbus supports on an annual basis, so this fundraiser will result in even more money given to the cause, said Mark Hancock with the local council.
“They have about an 80, 90% rehabilitation rate. The state is around 40%, so they do good work,” he said.
Hancock’s wife, Jessica Hancock, said the festival committee sent letters to people in the community they thought would participate, and they wound up with 11 dunkees.
They are Brian Hamp, Brandon Harpe, Brad Lucas, Jim Lucas, Matt Nicholson, Jordan Richart, Darren Richey, Jeremy Richey, Dan Robison, Stephanie Strothmann and Bryan Bowman.
“We were amazed at the response. It was wonderful. It’s pretty awesome,” she said. “People really donate their time for a good cause. It’s a very good cause. We hope that that brings people in. It’ll be something fun and also a great fundraiser for Gibault.”
Each dunkee will be in the tank for approximately 15 minutes, and people may choose from different tiers to dunk their dunkee of choice: Eins, $5 for three balls; zwei, $10 for seven balls; drei, $15 for 10 balls; or vier, $20 for pushing the bullseye for an automatic dunk.
Gibault Director Melissa Reed will be staffing the dunk tank.
“The Knights of Columbus do a great deal for them. They are really excited for it,” Jessica said.
The festival’s hours will be 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. May 12 and 13.
Opening ceremonies will be at 6 p.m. May 12 featuring the Seymour Young Marines and Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 1925.
Of the 13 food vendors, nine are returning: Knights of Columbus (Maid Knight sandwiches and nachos), Sati Babi (pork on a stick and eggrolls), Dudleytown Conservation Club (fish sandwiches), Schwätzer’s German Restaurant (currywurst poutine and Sprecher craft sodas), Bob and Kev’s BBQ (pulled pork and pork parfaits), Mr. Beefy’s (sirloin tip dinners), Psi Iota Xi (grilled cheese sandwiches and hot dogs), Kovener’s Korner (ice cream and shaved ice) and The Rolling Pig Pin (Schnecken, German potato salad, chicken bacon ranch paninis, chicken nachos and lemonade).
The four new food vendors are Lola’s Modern Kitchen (breakfast starting at 9 a.m.; tacos, burritos and nachos during the festival), Puckett’s Wood Fire Pizza (wood-fired pizza and grinders), Shaggy’s Concessions (burgers, chicken fingers, cheese curds, fries and deep-fried treats) and Booze-e Bundts (booze-infused baked goods).
“We like everyone to come for the entire fest because you can eat lunch, dinner, snack. There’s anything you want,” Jessica said.
Volunteers with the Knights of Columbus will staff the beer garden, which will be set up by Bartholomew County Beverage Co. and include draft and craft beer, wine and seltzers. Drink tickets will be available at the festival for $6 each or $40 for eight tickets. Bring your identification, and then pick up a bracelet and drink tickets.
The craft vendors are Lakeside Gifts & Custom Embroidery, Wicks Smithy & Glassworks, The Licorice Guy, Sugar Mae Sweets, Be’s Party Supplies and The Pacey Apothecary. Others could be added.
The VFW also will sell poppies for a donation, while kids games with prizes will be free.
Also for the kids, John the Balloon Guy will have balloon animals, face painting and cotton candy for a charge.
“We really tried to get more kids stuff, more family-oriented stuff this year,” festival committee member Sonnie Hardwick said.
Finally, live music will be both days. The May 12 lineup consists of the Seymour High School jazz band from 4 to 5 p.m., an acoustic show by Fred Elam and Steve Plasse from 5 to 7 p.m. and Bad Medicine from 8 to 11 p.m. The May 13 performers are The Dwight Hendrix Experience from 4 to 6 p.m., Forrest Turner from 6 to 8 p.m. and The Jackson Way from 8 to 11 p.m.
“It has evolved into quite the thing every year,” festival committee member Philip Hardwick said.
“It’s a great kickoff for the summer to get the summer started,” Sonnie said.
“We’ve loved it,” Jessica said. “It has been the best.”
If you go
What: Knights of Columbus Council 1252’s third annual Frühlingsfest
When: 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. May 12 and 13
Where: B&O Railroad Parking Lot in downtown Seymour behind the KofC building
Who: Open to the public
Cost: Admission is free
Features: Food vendors, craft vendors, beer garden, kids activities, live music and dunk tank fundraiser