Labor Day Weekend in Frankenmuth, MI

Mid-Michigan Labor Day

Thursday, September 1, 2005-Frankenmuth, Michigan

If you’re looking for a fun Labor Day get-away close to home with your family and friends, visit Frankenmuth, Michigan’s Little Bavaria. Experience Frankenmuth’s great shopping, restaurants, wineries, hotels, RV park, festivals, and golfing. You’ll find many unique shops along Frankenmuth’s picturesque Main Street including the shops at Frankenmuth River Place which will make you feel like you stepped into a quaint Bavarian village.

Frankenmuth is also home to Bronner’s CHRISTmas Wonderland, the world’s largest Christmas store. Relax and enjoy one of Frankenmuth’s many restaurants. The Bavarian Inn and Zehnder’s restaurants feature Frankenmuth’s famous all-you-can-eat chicken dinners plus much more, or try one of Frankenmuth’s brew pubs or other restaurants. There’s something fun for everyone in Frankenmuth!

Labor Day is the time for the Second Annual Blues Bash on the Cass featuring Blue's, Brew's and BBQ's running September 2nd and 3rd, 2005 at Frankenmuth's Heritage Park. The Blues Bash features Dr. John, Tommy Castro, Walter "Wolfman" Washington, and The Saucecats on September 2nd. September 3rd features Matt Besey, Larry McCray, Carl Weathersby, and Bernard Allison. Both days are rain or shine within the brand new Harvey E. Kern Community Pavilion.

We welcome you to experience Frankenmuth, “Michigan’s Little Bavaria.” After all, we’re really not that far from home! For travel information and reservation assistance please visit us online at www.frankenmuth.org or call 1-800-FUN-TOWN.

What's New in Frankenmuth!

Harvey Kern Community Pavilion: Located in Frankenmuth's Heritage Park, the Harvey Kern Community Pavilion is home to many of Frankenmuth's fine festivals and events. This magnificent structure grew from a combined effort of individual donors, businesses, and community service clubs. The Frankenmuth Rotary Club spearheaded the project in recognition of Rotary International’s Centennial Anniversary. It is a centennial project like none other. Groundbreaking took place in the fall of 2004 and the pavilion opened in July of 2005. Patterned after a Munich, Germany festhall, this 38,000 square foot, barrier and obstruction-free facility will become home to the World Expo of Beer held in May, the Bavarian Festival held in June, the Volksläufe (people's race) held on the 4th of July, the August Summer Music Fest, and September's Blues Bash on the Cass, Auto Fest and Oktoberfest.

Zehnder's Splash Village Hotel & Waterpark: Built on the property of the former Zehnder's Bavarian Haus Hotel, groundbreaking took place in the fall of 2004 for this new complex and which opened in July 2005. Features include a four-level, 30,000 square foot indoor waterpark featuring two, four-story tube slides, a lazy river, body slide, dumping bucket, toddler pool and much more.

Brewery Tours & Beer Tasting: Of course, all good German's like their beer, and you and your friends can take part in a tour of the beer brewing process as well as taste the final products at the recently reopened Frankenmuth Brewery. Taste a part of Frankenmuth's history when you try "Frankenmuth Mel-O-Dry" from a 1940's recipe.

Wool Processing Hands-on Tours: At Zeilinger Wool Company, guests can learn the procedures of wool processing for bedding products as well as yarn-making. Turn-of-the-century machinery transforms the raw fibers and processes them into materials of personal comfort and beauty.

Frankenmuth Streetscaping: A project that was begun in 1997 has finally been completed. Over 250 live flower baskets hang from light poles along Frankenmuth's Main Street and are watered twice daily through a computerized irrigation system that runs up the poles. European signage, stone walls, barrier-free walkways, and abundant flowering foliage await you.

Frankenmuth Auto Fest 2005

The 22nd Annual Frankenmuth Auto Fest is in full gear from September 9-11, 2005. Each year the Frankenmuth Auto Fest roars in on Friday evening with the "Big Block Party." From 5-10 p.m. Frankenmuth's Main Street is closed as the weekend's festivities get underway. Enjoy a walk through "Michigan's Little Bavaria" and all the classics and hot rods you can imagine. It's a trip back in time with the stage set with over a dozen bands playing everything from oldies favorites to parrothead classics along the 2 mile stretch. Saturday the fun continues in Heritage Park with over 2,000 vehicles line the banks of the meandering Cass River where hundred year old willows provide shade. The park buzzes with a vendors row, entertainment, food & beverage, and the Ronald McDonald Show. As Saturday evening rolls in the Oldies Fest takes center stage in the new Harvey Kern Pavilion with live bands such as "Parrotthedd" and "Endless Summer." Start Sunday with the Lion's Club Pancake Breakfast then enjoy kids activities, entertainment, and the awards presentations. Over 60 authentic German steins will be awarded by category from your fellow car enthusiasts. For more information or to register your vehicle online visit http://www.frankenmuthautofest.com/ or call (989) 652-6964.