Zeitgeist: First Lutheran Church hosts annual German Festival | News, sports, jobs

Shirley Goodfellow (right) holds her granddaughter Jocelyn Ice (3) (left) as she smiles at the sights and sounds of German Fest Saturday at First Lutheran Church in Parkersburg. (Photo by Michelle Dillon)

PARKERSBURG – Residents gathered in Parkersburg on Saturday to celebrate German heritage at the First Lutheran Church German Fest.

According to church member Linda Dally, the church has been hosting the German Festival for ten years. It used to be held just for church.

“Over the last 10 years we have involved the community because there are a few other German festivals in the area and we decided to open them up.” Dally said. “We have a beautiful lawn. We can eat outside. We can cook outside. It’s just a nice community event. People enjoy it.”

About 100 people attended the event in the first hour Saturday and most were residents of the community and not members of the church, Dally said.

She said many people come to the German Festival every year.

Greg Goodfellow scoops out cooked peppers and onions in the fellowship room at First Lutheran Church during German Fest on Saturday. (Photo by Michelle Dillon)

The German Fest celebrates the German heritage of the first Lutheran. The event took place on Saturday from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Attendees enjoy a traditional German meal of grilled bratwurst, green peppers and onions, warm German potato salad, sauerkraut, spaetzle and gravy, dessert and a drink for $15.

Those attending the festival were able to enjoy their meals indoors in the church’s fellowship hall or outside on the church lawn under tents.

For those who wanted a different option, a hot dog with homemade sauce, fries, dessert and a drink was $5.

According to Dally, desserts included apple strudel, pecan pie and German chocolate cupcakes. Church members provided dessert “And they are all homemade” she said.

Bratwurst is waiting to be eaten Saturday at German Fest at First Lutheran Church in Parkersburg. (Photo by Michelle Dillon)

The German band performed and there was a tour of the church at 1 p.m

First Lutheran was founded in 1892. The current building was built in 1927.

Dally said the event was great.

“It’s fun for us (volunteers) … it’s a great fellowship with the community,” she said.

Shirely Goodfellow brought her granddaughter Jocelyn Ice, 3, to the party. Her family was a member of the church and her husband helped serve the food, her daughter played in the German band and her son-in-law helped with the cooking, she said.

Jocelyn Ice, 3, looks through a cutout of a child in German clothing at First Lutheran Church’s German Festival on Saturday in Parkersburg. (Photo by Michelle Dillon)

“(Jocelyn Ice) comes every year” Goodfellow said.

Goodfellow, Ice and Goodfellow’s daughter and husband wore German clothing at the festival.

“This is the first year we’re dressing up” she said.

Goodfellow recently discovered that, like the church, she has German in her heritage.

“I just found out that my family came on a boat from Alsace in 1883.” she said.

The German band will play at the First Lutheran Church of Parkersburg’s annual German Festival on Saturday afternoon. (Photo by Michelle Dillon)

She said it was an area in France near the border between Switzerland and Germany, and her ancestors from the region spoke German.

There was no band at the German festival last year, so she said she’s glad the music is back this year.

Goodfellow’s favorite part of German Fest is the food.

“Naturally,” she said.

Find out more about the German Festival at

A crowd enjoys German food and music on the lawn of First Lutheran Church in Parkersburg during German Fest on Saturday. (Photo by Michelle Dillon)

Michelle Dillon can be reached at [email protected]