BOONSBORO, Md. – The 27th annual Augustoberfest, to be held Aug. 16-17, at the Washington County Agricultural Center, brings the spirit of Bavaria to Hagerstown, celebrating the region’s German heritage and the 72-year Sister City relationship with Wesel, Germany.
Organized by the Augustoberfest Charitable Foundation, the nonprofit festival draws thousands to honor cultural ties while raising scholarship funds for the Hagerstown-Wesel student exchange program and supporting local nonprofits.
The festival features authentic German food, music and dance, with highlights including bratwurst, soft pretzels and Munich beer, alongside performances by the Die Heimatklange Orchestra and the German Hungarian Schuhplattler & Folk Dance Group. A new pretzel menu, a hospitality cart for accessibility, and a dedicated Veterans Area enhanced the experience. The Kinderwunderland offered free activities for children, including Professor Horn’s Punch & Judy Show and folklore storytelling.
The Augustoberfest Charitable Foundation, led by Chairwoman Jill Colbert and a volunteer board of local business leaders, supports the student exchange program, which resumed in 2024 after a pandemic hiatus. This year, students from Wesel visited Hagerstown in April, followed by Hagerstown students traveling to Germany in June. Funds raised also provided endowments to three additional Washington County nonprofits.
Vendors, such as Blackout Nuts and Pretzels and Haulin Butts BBQ, joined sponsors like Phoenix Color and Antietam Broadband to create a vibrant marketplace. The event’s Frühschoppen German Brunch and traditional keg-tapping ceremony added to the festive atmosphere. For more information, readers may visit augustoberfest.org.
