By JONATHAN ZWEYGARDT
Hays Post

VICTORIA — Herzogfest, an annual celebration of German heritage, gets underway Friday evening in Victoria.

The 33rd annual event started by businesses in Victoria as a sidewalk sale, according to Board of Directors President Marge Rome and, as it spread through downtown, organizers chose to move the event to Victoria City Park.

“It’s kind of the last hurrah before school starts,” Rome said. “We have a lot of people that come in from out of town, and we celebrate our German heritage.”

Victoria was founded by the ethnic German immigrants from the Volga River area of Russia. Rome said the Germans called their settlement Herzog, while English immigrants settled in Victoria. The two colonies later merged to form Victoria.

Rome added the founders of the event chose to name the celebration Herzogfest to honor their heritage.

The grounds open and there is free swimming at 5 p.m. with the welcome ceremony at 6:30 p.m., followed by musical entertainment featuring county music recording artist Charlie Worsham at 9:30 p.m.

Saturday morning at 8 a.m. is the 5K run/walk, and the sixth annual rod, custom and cycle show runs from 8 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.

There will also be basketball, soccer and tennis tournaments Saturday morning. Other events on Saturday include horseshoes, bingo and Polka Mass at 4 p.m. Saturday.

There will be a number of vendors with different kinds of food including many German favorites such as bierocks, green bean dumpling soup and galushkies.

You can find a complete schedule of events at herzogfest.com.