Austrian American Society | Carl Schurz Memorial Park | D.A.N.K. Milwaukee | Danube Cultural Society | Deutscher Sprach & Schulverein | D’Holzhacker Buam | D’lustig’n Wendlstoana | Freistadt Alte Kameraden Band | German Fest Milwaukee | German-American Police Association | Germany Philatelic Society | Goethe House Wisconsin | Hessischer Verein | Karnevals Gesellschaft Rheinischer Verein Gruen-Weiss | Klub der Pommern | Kultur Vereinigung | Milwaukee D.A.N.K. Chor | Milwaukee Damenchor | Milwaukee Krampus Eigenheit | Milwaukee Liederkranz | Milwaukee Sport Club | Milwaukee Turners | Muller Fasching Club | Pommersche Tanzdeel Freistadt, Inc. | Pommerscher Verein Freistadt | S.V.E.V. D’Oberlandler | Schwaben Financial Aid Society | Schwaben Männerchor | Spielmannszug Drum and Bugel Crops. | Trinity Freistadt Historical Society | United Donauschwaben of Milwaukee, Inc. | Volkshoch Schule | Wisconsin Sängerbezirk, Inc.
Austrian American Society
Purpose
Also known as Klub Österreich–a group dedicated to enjoying, encouraging and preserving Austrian culture in southeastern Wisconsin. And tasty beer.
Year Founded
1980
Practice Info
None
- Gründungsfeier – Founder’s Day Annual Banquet
- June Club Picnic
- Austrian American Day
- Fall Hike
- Wein Fest “Zum Heurigen”
dugscott@hotmail.com
frankschmitz1@netzero.com
Phone
414-614-2235
@qwerty
Purpose
A private, social association with several outdoor activities and residential cabins and facilities.
Year Founded
1947
Practice Info
None
Public events:
Annual Chicken Fry in June
German American Day in August
Purpose
The German American National Congress, Deutsch Amerikanischer National Kongress, commonly referred to as DANK, actively works to preserve German culture, heritage and language in the United States. It is our aim to inspire people with Germanic heritage and those interested in German cultures and language to recognize and celebrate the culture in a number of exciting ways.
Year Founded
1960
Practice Info
DANK Milwaukee Folk Dancers
Dancers meet every 2nd and 4th Tuesday at German Fest Office
German Fest
Frühlingsfest ( DANK Milwaukee’s annual event in April )
William Bessa
wb_dank@yahoo.com
DANK German American National Congress Chapter Milwaukee
Website
Purpose
The Danube Cultural Jugendgruppe is for young adults ages 7 to 26 who wish to take part in their heritage through ethnic dancing.
Year Founded
2003
Practice Info
4:00p.m. Sunday at the German Fest Office
Schlachtfest
German Fest
Purpose
To promote an understanding of the German language and culture through an annual German essay contest and the AATG National German Exam. To encourage the study of the German language in high schools with study trip and cash awards. Provide information on career opportunities utilizing German language skills in various fields.
Year Founded
1956
Practice Info
None
- AATG Annual National German Language Contest
- DSSV Annual German Essay Contest
- DSSV Annual Award Ceremony (1st Sunday in May)
- DSSV Semiannual German Career Day for High School Students
- German Fest
Purpose
Our mission is to maintain the traditions of our forefathers in preserving the customs and culture passed down from generation to generation with special regard to the dance of Bavaria known as the Schuhplattler
Year Founded
1935
Practice Info
2nd and 4th Wednesday of each month at 7:00p.m.
German Fest
Holiday Folk Fair
Purpose
Bavarian dancing, singing and musical instruments are the heritage of the Wendlstoana. Tirolean folk costumes and traditions are also carried on.
Year Founded
1927
Practice Info
Thursdays, 7:00 pm at Bavarian Bierhaus
Meeting – first Thursday
Dancing – 2nd & 4th Thursdays
Music Practice – 3rd Thursday
German Fest
Oktoberfest at the Bavarian Bierhaus
Stiftungsfest
Purpose
German Brass Band (blaskapelle), entertaining audiences with their authentic German style music.
Year Founded
1942
Practice Info
Wednesday evenings at Lindenwood School
Bockbier Fest
Pommerntag
German Fest
Oktoberfest
Purpose
A Milwaukee tradition held annually on the Summerfest grounds, along the beautiful shoreline of Lake Michigan. One of the largest German festivals in North America, German Fest Milwaukee is known for its authentic food, culture and entertainment.
Year Founded
1981
Practice Info
None
Gerrman Fest is held the last full weekend in July on Milwaukee’s Summerfest Grounds located on the lakefront east of the downtown area.
Purpose
Our Mission Statement: The German-American Police Association of Greater Milwaukee is a social club that focuses on the celebration of German heritage among law enforcement officers, family and friends. The association has no affiliation or ties to any political organization. Its aims are to promote a positive view of law enforcement and strengthen the foundation of German history that has earned Milwaukee the title of “German Athens” of the United States.
The German-American Police Association of Greater Milwaukee was established in 2008, and is a fraternal and social organization comprised of law enforcement officers with an interest in celebrating German heritage.
Milwaukee-GAPA currently meets once a month, and is seeking new members comprising of active and retired law enforcement officers from the Milwaukee area and abroad. Associate membership is also available to non-law enforcement officers. Milwaukee-GAPA aims to grow into an organization that will hold social functions for its members and families, along with promoting charitable activities that would benefit German-American entities in the Milwaukee area.
Year Founded
2008
Meeting Info
Every 4th Wednesday of the Month (subject to change during certain months)
- Annual GAPA Hockey Outing
- Annual GAPA Fish Fray & Brewery Tour
- Annual GAPA Tailgate
- GAPA Anniversary
- House of Gerhard (Annual Dinner Social)
- Chicago-GAPA Oktoberfest
- Annual GAPA Christmas Dinner
- Annual GAPA Christmas Dinner
Purpose
Dedicated to the documentation, preservation, advancement and promotion of the stamps and postal history of Germany and its related areas through education, study, research and services.
Year Founded
1949
Meeting Info
4th Sun. (except July & Dec.), 7 p.m. at German Fest Office
Annual Convetion
faganfalls@aol.com
N/A
Website
N/A
Purpose
Our mission is to serve as a resource for information about the past and present culture of German-speaking people. Through cultural and educational programs, Goethe House Wisconsin seeks to provide people of all ages with a greater awareness of evolving German societies and in doing, promote strong relations, friendships and understanding.
Year Founded
1958
Practice Info
N/A
German Language Classes
Purpose
The Hessischer Verein was founded to educate the public about Germans of Hessen descent in this frequently overlooked region of Germany.
Year Founded
1989
Practice Info
N/A
None
grmnfst@yahoo.com
N/A
Website
N/A
Purpose
We are the Mardi Gras Society focused on a wider identity among everyone interested in the traditions of Karneval. We promote and participate in many events to preserve the heritage of our German culture through music, dance, food and song that defines Gemütlichkeit.
Year Founded
1964
Practice Info
Every third Sunday at 2:00p.m. at the Bavarian Bierhaus
Prinzenkrönung
Kindermaskenball
Maskenball
Weiberfastnacht
Kehraus
Purpose
Social club concentrating on the old Pomeranian area as well as the East Prussian (1940 and earlier) area.
Year Founded
1936
Meeting Info
1st Sunday of the month except January, July and August
German Fest
rknrinaldi@aol.com
N/A
Website
N/A
Purpose
Maintain a school of German language in order to uphold and pass-on German language, traditions, customs, literature, art and music. Promote, develop and encourage good fellowship and social activities among our member societies. Bring together and strengthen German organizations throughout Wisconsin with common goals of preservation of German culture, language and education. Provide upstanding guidance and purpose to students of the German language and culture.
Year Founded
1932
Class Info
Classes run from September through May and are held Satuday mornings from 8:15 AM to 10:15 AM.
None
Milwaukee D.A.N.K. Chor
Purpose
The German American National Congress, Deutsch Amerikanischer National Kongress, commonly referred to as DANK, actively works to preserve German culture, heritage and language in the United States. It is our aim to inspire people with Germanic heritage and those interested in German cultures and language to recognize and celebrate the culture in a number of exciting ways.
Year Founded
1960
Practice Info
DANK Milwaukee Chor
Singers meet every Thursday at German Fest Office
United German Choruses of Milwaukee Annual Christmas Concert
Sängerfest
Julia Kendl
dankmkechor@gmail.com
DANK German American National Congress Chapter Milwaukee
Website
Purpose
The Milwaukee Damenchor is a German-American Ladies Chorus. We sing German songs at several competitions and concerts throughout the year.
Year Founded
1989
Practice Info
Monday from 6:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. at the Milwaukee German Fest office
Annual Christmas Concert
Purpose
Year Founded
2018
Practice Info
N/A
N/A
Phone
n/a
N/A
Website
N/A
Purpose
Men’s Chorus specializing in German song, as well as, songs sung in English.
Year Founded
1878
Practice Info
Location: Latvian House of Milwaukee
Time/Days: Weekly—Thursdays at 7:00 p.m.
Besides an annual Spring Concert, the Liederkranz Chorus performs various concerts during the year for festivals, senior centers, weddings, as well as, performances at special civic events, such as the Christmas tree lighting in Brookfield, the Milwaukee Public Museum, the Lions Club national convention, the Mitchell Park Domes.
The singers are also members of the Wisconsin District Combined Chorus and participate in the North American Singers Association National Singers Festival, and the Milwaukee German Fest Opening Ceremony and Sunday Church Service.
Purpose
Milwaukee Sport Club offers high quality
coaching and facilities to support our youth academy, select and adult soccer teams.
Year Founded
1953
Practice Info
Fall/Spring
- Monday/Wednesday Training
Winter
- Indoor training in MSC Training Facility
Germanfest
Soccerfest
Purpose
The Turner motto, “Sound Mind in a Sound Body,” expresses their holistic vision for realizing human potential through the harmonious integration of intellectual and physical development.
Year Founded
1853
Practice Info
Mondays- 5:15 to 6 pm PreK Gymnastics; 6 pm to 7 pm Level 1 & 2 Gymnastics; Saturdays- 10 am to 11 am Level 1 Gymnastics Rock Climbing – Tuesday 5pm-10pm, Thursday 5pm-10pm, Friday 5pm-10pm, Saturday Noon-5pm and Sunday Noon-5pm.
The Turners hold many classes and seminars throughout the year.
Purpose
The Mullers purpose is to educate people in the United States of their Tyrolean (Austrian) folk customs.
Year Founded
1996
Practice Info
Second Monday of each month at 7:30pm (except July & August)
Bummel Tour – Old Town, Kegel’s Inn, Kochanski’s Concertina Bar
Schlachtfest – United Donauschwaben of Milwaukee
Schlachtfest – Danube Cultural Society of Southeastern Wisconsin
Milwaukee Maskenball – Rheinischer Verein Milwaukee & Spielmannszug Milwaukee
Weiberfastnacht – Rheinischer Verein Milwaukee
Fat Tuesday – Old Town Beer Hall
Kehraus – Rheinischer Verein Milwaukee
Fasching – Hofbrauhaus Chicago
Purpose
A colorful dance troupe preserving the traditional dance, music and heritage of Pomerania, a Germanic Province along the Baltic Sea. Curious? Then come and join us on a Tuesday for a “Get acquainted” session with any age group.
Year Founded
1977
Practice Info
Location: 12351 N. Granville Rd. Mequon, WI
Time/Days: Weekly—Tuesdays (Youth 6:30-7:30 pm; Adults 7:30-9:30 pm)
Purpose
Pommerscher Verein Freistadt was founded to preserve our Pomeranian heritage through the study of its history, genealogy, culture and language.
Year Founded
1978
Practice Info
Erntedank Fest
Pommerntag
S.V.E.V. D’Oberlandler
Purpose
To perpetuate the Bavarian culture through dance and music
Year Founded
1928
Practice Info
Friday evenings 8:00 to 10:00p.m.
(Business meeting 2nd Friday of the month)
- Bavarian Beer Bash
- Anniversary celebration
Purpose
The society was founded over 135 years ago by immigrants from Schwaben located in Southwest Germany to provide financial support to other immigrants. Today it is primarily a benevolent social society.
Year Founded
1882
Practice Info
None
S.F.A.S. participates at German Fest in conjunction with the Schwaben Männerchor.
@qwerty
@qwerty
Website
@qwerty
Purpose
Perpetuate and spread the culture of German song. Most classical and folk selections of various German songs are performed a capella. The Schwaben Männechor has joined forces with the Milwaukee D.A.N.K. Chor rehearsing and performing together for the benefit of both choirs.
Year Founded
1898
Practice Info
Thursdays, 7:00 – 8:30p.m. at the German Fest Office.
German Fest
Wisconsin Sängerbezirk competition
UGC Christmas Concert
North American Sängerbund Sängerfest
rnies414@gmail.com
N/A
Website
N/A
Purpose
The Spielmannszug Milwaukee Drum and Bugle Corps was founded by a group of dedicated people who wanted to maintain the German Culture and it’s Music here in the United States with Fanfaren, Fifes, Drums, Lyres, Hunting Horns and Cymbals.
Year Founded
1957
Practice Info
Wednesday nights at the Butler Frontier Park Community Building. Tanzsterne Minis practice 6:00 – 6:30 pm, Juniors and Seniors practice from 6:30-7:30 pm,
Drum & Bugle Corps practices from 7:30-8:30 pm
Purpose
Historical Site formed in 1965 to “glorify and give thanks to God, and to share the knowledge of what He has done for us thus far.”
Historical Site with 12 buildings, log cabin located on site of first Lutheran Church in Wisconsin.
Year Founded
1965
Practice Info
Tours available. Picnic Shelter for rent for small to medium sized groups.
The Historical Village is located at 11856 N. Church Place (SW of Corner of Freistadt and Granville Rds.)
Mequon
July 4 – All day picnic – Church Service, Parade, Alte Kameraden, Pommersche Tanzdeel
Historical Site open: Special Exhibit “Neighbors Past and Present: The Wisconsin German Experience”: a major traveling exhibit prepared by the Max Kade Institute in Madison
Sunday, August 16 Picnic on the Grounds and Ice Cream Social
Trinity Lutheran School of Freistadt All Class Reunion 11:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.
Monday, September 21 “An Evening with Eleanor Roosevelt” Trinity Freistadt Lutheran Church
Gathering Room 10729 W. Freistadt Rd. Mequon 7:00 p.m.
Purpose
The Donauschwaben are ethnic Germans that lived outside of Germany in the Slavic regions of Eastern Europe predominately along the Danube River. The purpose of the
United Donauschwaben of Milwaukee is to keep the Donauschwaben heritage alive while promoting the language, foods and customs to the public at large.
Year Founded
1945
Practice Info
Kulturgruppe – Sundays @ 4:30pm | Jugendgruppe – Sundays @ 6pm
Kindergruppe – Tuesdays @ 6:15pm | Spaß Milwaukee – Events throughout the year.
Frauengruppe & Jaegerverein – First Wednesday of the Month @ 7:30pm
Schlachtfest @ The Schwabenhof (January)
Jaegerball @ The Schwabenhof (March)
Group Trivia Night @ The Schwabenhof (April)
Maiball @ The Schwabenhof (May)
Father’s Day Picnic @ The Schwabenhof (June)
Milwaukee’s Germanfest @ Summerfest Grounds (July)
Traubenfest @ The Schwabenhof (September)
Oktoberfest @ The Schwabenhof (September)
Holiday Folk Fair International @ State Fair Park (November)
Holiday Frauen Bazaar @ The Schwabenhof (November)
Purpose
Giving adults opportunity to learn the German language and culture
Year Founded
1998
Class Info
Thursday classes held 9:00a.m. to 2:30p.m.
None
frankschmitz1@netzero.com
Phone
262-367-2682
Website
N/A
Purpose
Wisconsin Singers District is the umbrella organization consisting of nine German-American Choruses in southeast Wisconsin.
Year Founded
1892
Practice Info
Location: N/A
Time/Days: N/A
The Wisconsin Sängerbezirk is a member of the Nord-Amerikanischer Sängerbund (NASB), which consists of over sixty German-American choruses in the United States. The Wisconsin District Gemischter Chor is made up of singers from all member district choruses and participates in the NASB National Sängerfest, which is held every three years. The District Gemischter Chor also performs at the Milwaukee German Fest Opening Ceremony and Sunday morning church service each year.
The Sängerbezirk conducts a Wisconsin Sängerfest annually, with the exception of National Sängerfest years, where the participating choruses perform individually and then gather to form the district chorus to perform the final set of the main concert.
The Sängerbezirk also hold an annual singing competition referred to as the Sängerkommers. The competition is judged by professional music educators and the first place chorus takes home the coveted traveling trophy.
262-375-0294
None
Website
Information and events of the Wisconsin Sängerbezirk can be found on the
North American Association website.
