On April 6, there was a landmark celebration for the Pennsylfawnisch Deitsch Fersommling Fon Baerricks Kaundy (Pennsylvania German Gathering of Berks County). It was the 85th year for this event!
The first Berks County Fersommling was held in 1937 at the Rajah Temple in Reading. This annual event was disrupted due to the COVID-19 pandemic and did not take place in 1943-1945 due to World War II.
The Fersommling is traditionally held every Easter Monday at the Leesport Market Auction Hall. This is the state’s largest annual Pennsylvania Dutch gathering whose purpose is to celebrate the Pennsylvania Dutch heritage, language and culture.
The proceedings began at 5:30 p.m. There were 300-plus people in attendance, most of whom were of PA German ancestry. It was delightful to see so many generations of attendees! Some were as young as infants. Then there were youths, teens, parents, grandparents and even great grandparents.
The Pennsylvania German Gathering of Berks County, held April 6 at Leesport Farmer’s Market Banquet Hall, is the state’s largest annual Pennsylvania Dutch gathering whose purpose is to celebrate the Pennsylvania Dutch heritage, language and culture. (Photo courtesy of Mary Laub)
The general purpose of the organization is to preserve, represent and encourage the Pennsylvania German way of life. The Fersommling meets this purpose by providing an opportunity to hear and speak the PA German language.
But it is hoped that the attendees first and foremost had an enjoyable time with opportunities to re-acquaint with friends and meet others who share the enthusiasm about the PA German language. A program with the evening’s events was distributed which included English translations.
Of course, food was an important part of the festivities. There was a tasty all-you-can-eat buffet meal which included some PA German traditional foods such as cottage cheese and applebutter, sausage, lettuce with bacon dressing, and potato filling. Then there were many homemade pies for dessert- shoofly, apple, cherry, coconut cream and others.
The Shooflies PA German family band received the Hiwwe wie Driwwe, Here like There, certificate from PA German Cultural Heritage Center director Patrick Donmoyer, far right. The Shooflies were the performing artists for 2025 which commemorated their Palatinate Tour featuring five concerts in the Pfalz region of Germany. (Photo courtesy of Mary Laub)
The featured entertainment for the evening was a performance by the Pennsylvania Dutch family band, the Shooflies, who are dedicated to preserving the PA Dutch music, language, and culture. The band consists of siblings Brigitte Weinsteiger and Erika Gustavon, plus Erika’s husband Pete Gustavon and their daughter Adelaide Gustavson.
The Shooflies performed folk songs in the PA Dutch dialect featuring the fiddle, banjo, guitar, and upright bass. A booklet with the songs they performed, written both in PA Dutch and English, was distributed to the audience so they could follow along and participate in singing. Their performances blended traditional PA Dutch folksongs with American folk music which are recognized as essential in celebrating regional heritage. Their music was so lively that members of the audience were moved to get up and dance!
Keith Brintzenhoff, Richard Miller, David Adam and Paul Adam kicked up their heels and danced to the lively music by the Shooflies band during the 85th Pennsylvania German Gathering of Berks County held April 6 at Leesport Farmer’s Market Banquet Hall. (Photo courtesy of Mary Laub)
At the end of their performance, Patrick Donmoyer, director of the Pennsylvania German Cultural Heritage Center at Kutztown University, presented the band with the Hiwwe wie Driwwe (Here like There) 2025 artist commemorative award. This award is given annually to artisans who greatly contribute to the PA German and Palatine German dialect.
Music was also provided by the Happy Dutchmen band. Band leader, Bruce Rohrbach, was presented with a special commemorative award for his long standing dedication to the Baerricks Kaundy Pennsylfawnisch Deitsch Fersommling (Berks County Pennsylvania German Gathering).
Since the PA Germans have a deep religious conviction and loyalty to the country, during the Fersommling, prayers were offered, the pledge to the flag was recited and patriotic songs, as well as other PA German songs in the dialect, were part of the program. For those not familiar with the dialect, the event provided an excellent opportunity to meet with folks and hear the language, with a goal to perpetuate the language for future generations.
It should be noted that there are different spellings of the word ‘Fersommling’, such as ‘Versammling’, ‘Fersammling’, and others. The reason that there is a disparity is because, initially, there was no formalized spellings or dictionary. So, phonics was used to spell words.
‘Vormeeschder’ (president) Rev. Richard Miller presided over the program.
The Rawd refers to a board or committee of members consists of 30 men and women who come from different areas around Berks County but share a Pennsylvania German background and have the common goal of preserving and honoring the history of the Pennsylvania Dutch. The Rawd meets several times during the year at the Pennsylvania German Cultural Heritage Center in Kutztown.
At the Fersommling event, the Rawd members were acknowledged and wore a red handkerchief to distinguish themselves as resources for anyone needing assistance during the proceedings. As part of the proceedings, Rawd board member Ronald Seaman was awarded a special Fracktur certificate which acknowledged his outstanding contribution to the board during the past year. The recipient of this annual award is voted upon by fellow board members and is not disclosed until the Fersommling event.
Ronald Seaman, left, was recognized for his contribution to the Fersommling organization in 2025 from president Richard Millerduring the 85th Pennsylvania German Gathering of Berks County April 6 at Leesport Farmer’s Market Banquet Hall. (Photo courtesy of Mary Laub)
Bruce Rohrbach, left, received a certificate for his dedication to the Fersommling event from president Richard Miller during the 85th Pennsylvania German Gathering of Berks County April 6 at Leesport Farmer’s Market Banquet Hall. (Photo courtesy of Mary Laub)
Patrick Donmoyer, director of the Pennsylvania German Cultural Heritage Center at Kutztown University, explained the placemat that featured barn star painter Milton Hill and his wife that was used at the 85th Fersommling of Berks County. (Photo courtesy of Mary Laub)
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Ronald Seaman, left, was recognized for his contribution to the Fersommling organization in 2025 from president Richard Millerduring the 85th Pennsylvania German Gathering of Berks County April 6 at Leesport Farmer’s Market Banquet Hall. (Photo courtesy of Mary Laub)
Each person received a PA German themed placemat which is created every five years for the Fersommling event. This year’s placemat featured barn star artist Milton J. Hill (1887-1972) known for his intricate geometric designs, often called “Hill Stars”. On the back side of the placemat was a detailed explanation of his life and work written in both Dutch and English. Hill’s grandson, Rawd member Lee Heffner, was in attendance and is a co-author, along with Patrick Donmoyer, of a book dedicated to Hill’s work, Painter of the Stars: The Life and Work of Milton J. Hill.
Next year’s Fersommling will be held on Monday, March 29, 2027. This is a ticketed event so watch for more information about this special PA German celebration on the Facebook page at PA Deitsch Baerricks Kaundy or contact Linda Alspach at lalspach@comcast.net. Hope you can attend this informative and enjoyable event in 2027!
Columnist Mary Laub, of Maxatawny, is the author of the “On the Farm” series. Her Something Dutch column is written in Pa Dutch with English translation.