The show must go on

ODESSA – Odessa’s 50th annual Deutschesfest, celebrating the ethnic Volga-German heritage of many of the town’s earliest homesteaders, is scheduled for next week. The Deutschesfest supplement to The Odessa Record, which normally is published the week prior to the festival (or this week), is being postponed until next week due to numerous circumstances, some beyond our control, some not.

As the Fest approaches, last-minute changes and frantic preparations are still underway. Communication is often inadequate or lacking altogether, and the rumor mill, as always, is in high gear and confusing everybody. In any case, we soldier on. Fest happens, as the saying goes.

Some rumors, at least, can now be put to rest. Paul Scheller of the Odessa Historical Society tells us that the Old-Fashioned Bake Sale, which had apparently been in some doubt, will be held at the usual time (10 a.m.), date (Friday, Sept. 17) and place (Old Town Hall). Those donating items to the sale are asked to deliver them to the OTH at 9 a.m. on Sept. 17.

Chamber president Norman Ott says the Biergarten will be held indoors with live music performed on the indoor stage. With the state’s mandate on mask-wearing back in effect, it will be interesting to see whether or not it will be enforced, or given the surge in illness, whether anyone will want to come to Fest at all.