Ernte Fest 2012

Dressed in traditional German apparel, Eiler Anderson, age 3, of Joplin, on the rope swing, above, was one of thousands who enjoyed the fun at the Freistatt Lions' Ernte Fest last weekend. Eiler is the son of Ron and Heather Anderson. Lions past president Harold Lampe said Friday became a family night at the festival with large numbers groups including children attending. (Times Photos by Murray Bishoff)
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This year's Ernte Fest T-shirt was red with a colorful logo, fitting for the traditionally colorful harvest festival in Freistatt. Pam Schoen showed off a sample shirt. (Times Photos by Murray Bishoff)
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As the sun set west of Freistatt on Saturday night, dancing was just picking up in front of the German band at Ernte Fest. Within minutes, once the call went out for the "Chicken Dance," the floor was full of revelers. (Times Photos by Murray Bishoff)
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Traditional forms of entertainment, including the pony-driven merry-go-round, provided fun for all ages at the 39th annual Ernte Fest in Freistatt. (Times Photos by Murray Bishoff)
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Community organizations running entertainment venues at Ernte Fest could earn part of the profits for their year's activities. Members of the varsity speech and debate team at Monett High School raised $362 the first night in the sword toss game. Shown, from left, are: Tom Younker, Matt Murphy and Connor Marshall. (Times Photos by Murray Bishoff)
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Running the duck pond at Ernte Fest were girls from the Monett High School speech and debate team. From left are: Sydney Barta, Ginna Verhoff and Zeina Masri. (Times photos by Murray Bishoff)
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The Aurora Lions Club ran the bingo game at this year's Ernte Fest. (Times photos by Murray Bishoff)
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Lights continued the attraction for games and rides for children as evening settled in on the 39th annual Ernte Fest. (Times Photos by Murray Bishoff)
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The traditional German meal served at Ernte Fest is a big attraction for the Freistatt Lions' annual event in Freistatt. This year, Johnsonville Brauts was an official sponsor. On Friday, 404 meals were served and 362 were dished up on Saturday. Servers on Saturday, shown above, were: Renee Moennig, Sue Walthall, Carol Durbin, Glenda Schoen, Norma Kaiser, Alice Moreland and Lois Gaddy. (Times Photos by Murray Bishoff)
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People come from all over to enjoy the traditional German meal at Ernte Fest. Sitting down to one of the later dinners on Saturday night was Bob and Brenda Whitescarver, of Cassville. (Times Photos by Murray Bishoff)
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Dancing at Ernte Fest was not just for seasoned polka dancers. Children enjoyed taking a spin on the dance floor, especially on Friday, when a large number of families attended the festivities. (Times Photos by Murray Bishoff)
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The Sauerkrauts, from San Antonio, Texas, provided traditional German music that kept the Ertne Fest crowd entertained with many dancing opportunities for the later evening session both nights. (Times Photos by Murray Bishoff)
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The Sauerkrauts band encouraged crowd participation, and one of their standing routines was hoisting a glass of beer in the air for a toast at Freistatt's traditional German festival. (Times Photos by Murray Bishoff)
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People from all over come to Ertne Fest. Irmgard McGinnis, at left, from Fayetteville, Ark., and Reaate Guarino, from Bella Vista, Ark., donned their traditional German apparel to enjoy theGerman harvest festival. (Times Photos by Murray Bishoff)
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Swaying to the music were several ladies in the crowd at Ernte Fest, dressed for the occasion. (Times Photos by Murray Bishoff)
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Whether dancing the polka or joining in the prominade for the "Chicken Dance," the crowd at Ernte Fest could not resist the call to the dance floor. (Times Photos by Murray Bishoff)
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A view across the bier garten late on Saturday. (Times Photos by Murray Bishoff)
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Ashlyne Teague, of Aurora, drew the winning ticket in the drawing for a new John Deere mower, given away by Larson's Farm Supply. Phillip Shane, of Springfield, was the winner. (Times Photos by Murray Bishoff)
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A view from the picnic table seats of the "Cicken Dance" and "hokey Pokey" parade in from of the band stand at Ernte Fest. (Times photos by Murray Bishoff)
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As the older crowd that came to hear the traditional German music at Ernte Fest thinned, the crowd around the rock band Country Green swelled at the second stage. (Times photos by Murray Bishoff)
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Secuirty staff on deer stands looked out over the crowd at Ernte Fest to avoid any problems in the bier garten during the annual German festival in Freistatt. (Times photos by Murray Bishoff)
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