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Utah’s first family-friendly winter tradition has been twinning between Ogden and Hof, Germany, since 1956. Tickets are available at ogdenpet.com/events.
It’s the time of year when Ogden switches from sleigh bells to schnitzel; The Snedden HOF Germanfest returns to a new location in January, the Ogden Eccles Conference Center, for the annual celebration of Ogden’s twin town Hof, Germany.
The two-day festival attracts people from all over the country for authentic German food and music. In 2022, the new venue will host the same fun, food, and music.
“We look forward to this event and the continuation of the celebration of the town twinning between Hof and Ogden,” said the new host OECC.
The annual German-themed winter festival in Ogden dates back to 1976 when Councilor Scott Snedden reactivated the Sister City Program and launched a new winter festival called Hof Winter Carnival in honor of Ogden’s twinning with Hof, which was established under President Dwight Life called Eisenhower’s People-to-People program in 1956.
The purpose of the program was to bring together citizens, not governments, from countries around the globe in the hope of promoting understanding and peace. The organizers of the HOF Germanfest wrote in an event flyer from 2012 that the residents of Ogden provided a selected delegation of German citizens with a host family as part of the Eisenhowers program, from which a friendship between the visiting August Brand and the President of the Ogden Bank of Utah, Frank Browning, grew. This new friendship between the two citizens of Hof and Ogden resulted in one of the country’s first town twinning.
Today, according to the OECC, Hof and Ogden have the oldest and most successful town twinning that emerged from the People to People program – outstanding German family festivals in Utah. “
“This great tradition lives on and continues to be a wonderful winter event in Weber County and Ogden,” said OECC.
German bands, including Salzburger Echo, Park City Polka Players and the Gruber Family Band from the western USA, will perform on a professional stage this year, along with German dances by folk dancers.
Attendees will enjoy some of the best and most authentic German food you can find in Utah, such as Wiener Schnitzel, Bratwurst, and Knockwurst. German-style draft beer is also offered.
In addition, “great authentic craft stalls from local and foreign vendors decorate the festival and display their wares,” said OECC. “People of all ages can dance to polkas, waltzes and the chicken dance late into the night.”
As always, this year’s HOF Germanfest is a family-friendly affair. The Weber school district brings its German clubs to the festival. And, according to OECC, “Children can experience German food, bread and authentic German pastries … not to mention that they can play bells and alphorns and learn new dances such as polkas and waltzes.”
Awards ceremonies and games take place on both days between the band sets.
The 36th annual Sneddon HOF Germanfest takes place on Friday and Saturday, 21.-22. January, at the OECC, 2415 Washington Blvd. on both days from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Tickets are $ 8 for adults, $ 5 for children ages 3-11, and $ 6 for students and seniors. A $ 25 Family Pass can be purchased for two adults and up to four students or children.
Free parking is available in the multi-storey car park behind the conference center on Kiesel Avenue.
Further information and tickets to purchase can be found at facebook.com/HOFgermanfest or ogdenpet.com/events.
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