A little rain didn’t dampen the spirits of those who attended the third annual Frühlingsfest held by the Knights of Columbus Council 1252 on Friday evening.
The two-day festival with live music, food, beverages and craft vendors took place Friday and Saturday in downtown Seymour.
Frühlingsfest — German for “spring festival” — took place in the B & O Railroad Parking Lot behind the Knights of Columbus at 118 E. Second St.
K of C members and event volunteers Paul Kedrowitz and Jim Hoffmeier were handing out samples of their Maid Knight sandwich filling Friday afternoon at the festival, hoping it would bring people back to purchase their sandwiches.
“The Maid Knights are new this year, and last year, we sold tenderloins,” Kedrowitz said. “A good size portion of what’s raised this weekend will go back to local charities and St. Ambrose Catholic Church.”
Seymour resident Anne Carpenter stopped by the Knights of Columbus booth and received a free sample of the Maid Knight.
She said her favorite thing about the festival was the food and the people.
“I like just everything about it, and it’s nice they do something like this for the community,” she said. “We can all get together and enjoy an evening out.”
Carpenter was at Frühlingsfest with several of her family members, including her 10-year-old granddaughter, Brinlee Jackson.
Jackson said she enjoys all of the food at the festival, and her favorite is the shish kebabs and cotton candy.
Nathaniel Greene, 10, and Ariel Siefker, 12, of the Seymour Young Marines presented the flags during the opening ceremony Friday.
Greene said he has been a part of the organization for about two years, and Siefker had been a member for one year.
“We’re going to carry the colors tonight, march up to the front and then present the colors,” Greene said. “Then the National Anthem will start and the Pledge of Allegiance, and then we’ll march back.”
Greene said this was his first time carrying the flags, and both he and Siefker, who had carried the flags once before, were excited about taking part in the ceremony.
After the flag presentation, Jeff Pershing with the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 1925 Auxiliary gave a welcome to all in attendance.
He reminded everyone to patronize the food booths and other vendors, and he also talked about the VFW’s Buddy Poppy tent.
“It’s that time of year, and the Buddy Poppies do a lot for our veterans and families, and we’d appreciate any donations you’d like to give for the Buddy Poppies,” Pershing said. “Now, have a good time and enjoy yourselves.”
On Saturday afternoon, a dunk tank was set up in the parking lot with proceeds benefiting Gibault Children’s Services of Terre Haute.
Brian Hamp, Brandon Harpe, Brad Lucas, Jim Lucas, Matt Nicholson, Jordan Richart, Darren Richey, Jeremy Richey, Dan Robison, Stephanie Strothmann and Bryan Bowman were scheduled to take turns getting dunked.
Live music took place both days of the festival, featuring the Seymour High School jazz band, an acoustic show by Fred Elam and Steve Plasse and Bad Medicine on Friday and The Dwight Hendrix Experience, Forrest Turner and The Jackson Way on Saturday.
Wilma Elam, Fred Elam’s mother, had a seat front and center to see her son play music with Plasse on Friday night.
After they finished playing at the festival, Wilma said they were headed over to play at the Fraternal Order of Eagles.
“We play a little bit of everywhere here and in southern Indiana,” she said. “Our favorite part of any event is always the music, and we love to get out and see the families enjoying time together.”