The festival showcases the city's German heritage with various events and performances, such as the GOAT Beard contest, where judges search for the "greatest of all time beard" in one of the many family-friendly events planned for the weekend.
Craig Bogner, general manager of the Tomball German Heritage Festival, said he expects a crowd at the three-day festival following last year's canceled festivals, which were upended by the COVID-19 pandemic last March and December.
“Everybody’s ready to get out and enjoy the summer,” Bogner said June 2. “The town has supported the German festival for the past 20 years, and we want to give back as much as we can.”
Location, time and date
Hundreds of street vendors will set up shop along Market and South Walnut streets. Performances and activities will be held at the Grady Und Sandra Platz at Pine and Market streets, Telgte Dance Hall at Market and Elm streets, Rybak Party Stage at Cherry and Market streets, Warsteiner/Ziegenbock Wiesn off Walnut Street, and the German Heritage Center.
Headliner Mollie B & Squeezebox with Ted Lange kick off the festival Friday, June 4, at 6 p.m. with German polka music followed by two folk dance performances.
The festival runs from 6-10 p.m. for performances June 4. The street festival spans 10 a.m.-10 p.m. Saturday, June 5, and 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Sunday, June 6.
Six contests will be held June 5, ranging from yodeling matches to best-dressed pageants.
Admission
The festival is free for all to attend, but carnival rides and food will be available at a cost.
Parking, shuttle service
Free parking and a shuttle service will be available for all attendees. The shuttle will be available to pick up festivalgoers at HCA Houston Healthcare Tomball from 10 a.m.-10:30 p.m. June 5 and from 10 a.m.-6:30 p.m. June 6, according to festival information.
Parking is also available at:
- HCA Houston Healthcare Tomball in the east parking garage, 605 Holderrieth Blvd., Tomball
- Lone Star College-Tomball Health Science Center, 700 Graham Drive, Tomball
- Medical office complex at Graham and School streets
- Medical office complex at James and School streets
- Tomball Public Works, 501 James St., Tomball
- Petting Zoo
- German food and beer
- Chicken-dance contest
- Street performers
- Nearly 200 street vendors
- Carnival rides
