TICKETS NOW BEING ACCEPTED FOR 2024 ‘FEST
Orders are now being accepted for the 63rd Schmeckfest — a community celebration that is regaining its footing following its Covid-19-related suspension in 2020, 2021 and 2022.
The “festival of tasting” that honors the Germans-from-Russia heritage on which the area was founded nearly 150 years ago will be held Friday and Saturday, March 15 and 16 on the campus of Freeman Academy, where it all began in 1959.
Up to 1,000 tickets for the traditional meal — served buffet-style — will be available each night, and reserved seating for this year’s stage production, “Shrek the Musical,” may also be purchased using a seating chart that is available at schmeckfest.com.
Buyers may choose their section but not their specific seat; musical tickets purchased prior to Jan. 1 will be processed by a random drawing, and on a first come, first-served basis after that.
“Shrek the Musical” will also be presented Thursday, March 14; no other Schmeckfest activities are planned for that day.
This year’s festival follows a long history of risk, growth, change and adaptation.
Schmeckfest began in 1959 when the Freeman Junior College Auxiliary chose to serve traditional foods for its 10th anniversary celebration. A buffet was planned featuring dishes from the heritage of the three Mennonite groups that settled in southeastern South Dakota – Low German, Hutters and Schweitzers. They called the event “Schmeckfest” which translated loosely from German, means “festival of tasting.” In a community where most people rarely ate out, some wondered if anyone would pay to eat foods they had at home. But the Auxiliary believed the idea was worth pursuing, so they planned for about 200 — or maybe a few more.
As has been well-publicized over the decades, the response to that first festival overwhelmed organizers when more than 1,000 guests showed up, some of whom had to be turned away.
While one school of thought was, “We’re never doing that again,” Schmeckfest returned again in 1960, and in 1961, and in 1962 …
Over the years it moved from two days to three days to two consecutive weekends, with demonstrations, food sales and scheduled programming all part of the experience for the several thousand guests who converge on the community.
Schmeckfest has often been described as “a homecoming” for Freeman area natives and, for some, is bigger than Christmas.
All of that came to a halt in March of 2020, though, as the coronavirus pandemic hit just as final preparations were underway for that year’s festival. Over the next few years, Schmeckfest officials implemented a hybrid version of the event with drive-through food sales and take-home meals, and last year introduced a festival that looked and felt similar to festivals of years past.
But instead of a two-weekend event, it returned as a two-day event, and was no longer under the umbrella of the Freeman Academy Auxiliary — an organization that no longer exists.
Rather, a group of committee chairs bands together to coordinate the massive volunteer effort required to execute Schmeckfest, and welcome hundreds to the community.
Schmeckfest continues to function as a fundraiser for Freeman Academy.
‘Shrek’ auditions this week
Auditions for “Shrek the Musical” are taking place this week. Those interested in a role may sign up for an audition slot by using the QR code, or by visiting the Freeman Public Library.
Auditions will be held in Music Hall on the Freeman Academy campus during the following times:
- Thursday, Dec. 14 from 5:30 to 7:15 p.m.
- Friday, Dec. 15 from 5:30 to 7:15 p.m.
- Saturday, Dec. 16 from 12:30 to 6 p.m.
“Shrek the Musical” is under the direction of Iwona Lewter.
To purchase meal/show tickets for the 2024 festival, visit Schmeckfest’s website here.
