• German Festivals Calendar

6. Center for Ethnic Studies
Forsyth Library
Fort Hays State University
600 Park Street
Hays, KS 67601
785-628-5901
Hours: Monday - Friday 8:00 am-7:00 pm
Summer hours: Monday – Thursday 7:00 am–5:30 pm
Closed Fri, Sat & Sun.

Admission: Free
http://www.fhsu.edu/library/ethnic/center-for-ethnic-studies/

The Center for Ethnic Studies contains a variety of pertinent reference works, bibliographies, and specialized studies, as well a pamphlets, journals, newspapers and dissertations published in the United States and abroad. General histories, church histories, parish registers, family histories, diaries and genealogies, obituaries, works on folklore, folk music and art make up the core of the collection. In addition, the collection contains numerous maps, photographs of bridal couples, individuals and groups. Several video documentaries and recordings of folk music and interviews are also available.

Lawrence Weigel, a noted local folklorist, donated a substantial portion of his personal collection of materials on the Volga Germans to the Center for Ethnic Studies Center. When combined with the variety of publications from the American Historical Society of Germans from Russia, this collection provides a rich source for research.

62. FHSU Oktoberfest & Homecoming Weekend
Hays Chamber of Commerce
2700 Vine Street
Hays, KS 67601
785-628-8201
Hours: Annual event held during the first or second weekend of October. Friday 10:30 a.m. – 5:00 p.m., parade on Saturday.
                Admission: Free

The Volga German Society Oktoberfest is an annual celebration of the Germans from Russia heritage of Ellis County. It is held at Frontier Park on the Friday before the Fort Hays State University Homecoming. The festival includes various activities and booths that provide food, crafts, refreshments, beer and musical entertainment. The Volga German Society, established in 1974, promotes the heritage of the German immigrants with various events, programs and the annual Oktoberfest.

*. Historic Churches
Hays Convention & Visitors Bureau
2700 Vine Street
Hays, KS 67601
785-628-8202
Hours: Varies - Sunrise to sunset
Admission: Free – donations accepted

A visit to the beautiful historic churches in our area will provide you with glimpse of our history and an understanding of the strong religious values of the early settlers in Ellis County. The Roman Catholic influences, artistic gothic style and beautiful stained glass are the most dominant features, yet each church is unique. The individual history and beauty of these churches are very fascinating and together they stand as symbol of faith for our early pioneers. We invite you to visit each of the churches, but keep in mind that most are active parishes with Sunday services, weddings and other religious activities that take place on a daily basis. Click here for a brochure.

14. Midwest Deutsche Oktoberfest
Midwest Deutsche Oktoberfest Association
2260 Catharine Rd
Hays, KS 67601
785-625-5394
Hours: Annual event held during the third
weekend of September. 
Admission: Free
www.midwestdeutschefest.com

This celebration of the German community is held at the Ellis County Fairgrounds located on the northwest edge of Hays near the junction of I-70 and the Highway 183 by-pass. Traditional polka music, food, beer and entertainment is included on both Saturday and Sunday. Activities include: German singers, wheat threshing demonstrations, horseshoe tournament, pony rides, craft booths, polka band jam session and a polka mass on Sunday.

54. Volga German Haus
100 W. 7th
Hays, KS 67601
785-628-2624
Summer Hours: 10 a.m. - 5 p.m Tuesday - Friday
Saturday 1 p.m.- 5 p.m. 
June- August, inclusive
Closed Sunday & Monday
Winter Hours
10 a.m. - 5 p.m. Tuesday - Friday
Closed Saturday, Sunday & Monday

Admission: Prices include admission to Ellis County Historical Museum
$4.00 Adult
$1.00 Children ages 3 - 12 years 
Children under 3 years are FREE
Members are FREE

www.elliscountyhistoricalmuseum.org
http://www.fhsu.edu/library/ksheritage/Volga-Germans-in-Ellis-County/

Located on the grounds of the Ellis County Historical Museum is a replica of a Volga German house furnished with authentic household items used by the Volga German settlers.

The first homes built by our early settlers were constructed of sod. Typically the homes were 28 feet long and 16 feet wide. Sod walls were 6 feet high with two half-windows in each wall and one front door. The ground would be excavated to a depth of three feet, with the sod set aside to form the walls. Trees and saplings formed the rafters and support for the roof. The interior of the house contained two rooms: a small anti-room containing the "mud stove" and the cooking utensils, and a large room which served as the living, dining, and sleeping area.  The walls were plastered with clay and whitewashed with Lebaster, a type of plaster of paris.

Many Ellis County residents are descendants of German immigrants who came from the Volga River region of Russia. These settlers were people who migrated from Germany to Russia following the end of the Seven Years War in 1763. They were invited to migrate to Russia by Catherine the Great, who was born in Germany and was the leader of Russia at the time. As an inducement to these potential immigrants, she promised freedom of religion, freedom from military conscription, free land and an exemption from taxation. They settled in villages on the eastside of the Volga River (hence, the name Volga-Germans) and turned to building their lives in their new homes.

In 1874 the reigning Czar began to remove the privileges Catherine the Great had promised the Volga Germans. Consequently, the Volga-Germans began to search for a new homeland. In 1875 they sent a scouting party of five men to America to inform themselves of the climate, soil and living conditions suitable for their farming lifestyle. These scouts found the Kansas plains similar to the steppes region of Russia and a large number of the Volga-Germans decided to migrate to America. In October and November of 1875, many of these immigrants left their villages along the Volga River and traveled to Saratov, Russia to begin their journey to America. The first Volga Germans arrived in Hays the middle of February 1876 and traveled south to settle land along the Big Timber Creek. Liebenthal was the first community to be founded on February 22, 1876. The other communities of Catherine, Herzog, Pfeifer, Munjor, and Schoenchen were settled during the spring and summer of 1876. Although they had the same religion, ethnicity and culture, they continued to focus on life in their individual communities. Just as they had done in Russia, they retained their language with the various dialects that were spoken by the people of each village. Each individual village also retained traditions of food, family, religion and marriage.

Guided tours of the Volga German Haus are available through the Ellis County Historical Museum