PROVIDENCE — John Meyer is described as a Sauerkraut Scientist, of sorts, and he called activities surrounding Providence City’s Sauerkraut Days “a funky event.”
Meyer, along with co-chairs Ashley Poole and Nichole Bone, were guests on KVNU’s For the People program on Monday to talk about this year’s celebration with most weekend events at Zollinger Park.
Activities actually started Monday with the kick-off of ‘Find the Can,’ a scavenger hunt for prizes.
Poole said in past years the can was found way too early in the week.
“It’s become really popular and our clues were being found too quickly the last couple years. So, we increased the difficulty and you have to be true Providence residents to be able to solve these clues this year,” Poole explained.
Bone said the sauerkraut traditions go back to the founding of Providence in April 1859 when many residents were of German and Swiss descent.
“Beginning, I think it was 1912, the Providence LDS 1st and 2nd Wards began to have Sauerkraut bazaars, is what they called them, Sauerkraut dinners, turkey and sauerkraut dinners.
“Basically they were trying to fund their buildings, and thousands of people would attend this two-day event. And now there is one ward that still does this turkey sauerkraut tradition every November,” said Bone.
Meyer said this year’s festival will remember a man by the name of Howard Christensen, who passed away this year.
“All of the jars that we will be selling this year will include a sticker on the top of them in memory of Howard. He had his fingerprints all over Providence City events for a very, very long time.
“He was part of the historical committee, he has been involved with the sauerkraut festival for a very, very long time. This man knows sauerkraut, and he had an excellent wealth and abundance of knowledge on how to make sauerkraut, and the way to do it in the old school, traditional way,” Meyers said.
Events on Friday kick-off with the Sauerkraut Days Parade at 5 p.m. and include a movie in the park: Napolean Dynamite.
Saturday events include a morning Fun Run, an all-you-can-eat Pancake Breakfast and a Providence Historic Tour.
The Sauerkraut Dinner will be held Saturday from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. and the festival concludes with a Drone Show Saturday night at about 9 p.m.
See all the events at ProvidenceCity.com.