The Upcoming Schmeckfest Celebrates The Very Essence Of South Dakota, So Save The Date
South Dakota is a vast melting pot that is made up of countless cultures with varying backgrounds, beginning with the Native Americans who first lived in the area and followed by the European settlers who followed suit in the 19th century. One of these groups of European settlers that make up much of today’s SoDak heritage are the Mennonites, who will soon be sharing their love of both the state and their culture at the annual Schmeckfest:
Taking place on March 20th, 21st, 27th, and 28th, 2020, Schmeckfest is a yearly South Dakota tradition that celebrates not only the Mennonite culture but the entire community of Freeman.
Celebrating its 62nd year, Schmeckfest, or "festival of tasting" in German, began during the 10th-anniversary celebration of the Freeman Junior College Women's Auxiliary. It was to consist of Hutterish, Swiss, and Low German dishes for a group of 200 but brought in a whopping 1,000 attendees.
Since that first year (1959), Schmeckfest has continued to morph into the highly-anticipated festival that it is today, which now consists of not only delicious European food but many unique events as well.
What can you expect to find at Schmeckfest? The four-day festival begins and ends with the famous cuisine, which is served buffet style and includes soups, homemade bread, potatoes, sausage, and more.
In addition to the food, Schmeckfest now offers even more things to see and do, including craft demonstrations, historical presentions, and even cooking classes!
