Willkommen to the Hartford Saengerbund

Newington, Connecticut · Founded 1858

Schlachtfest

Traditional German harvest feast · November · Open to the public

Annual · November

About Schlachtfest

Schlachtfest is one of the Saengerbund's most cherished traditions — a German harvest feast rooted in centuries of tradition. The evening opens with a ceremonial procession into the hall, followed by a mock eulogy and the singing of the traditional farewell song, a nod to the occasion's humorous origins.

Then the real feast begins: a generous spread of roasted pork, housemade sausages, sauerkraut, and all the trimmings, all washed down with cold beer and plenty of Gemütlichkeit. A true autumn night out with the community.

Check the Events Calendar for this year's date, or join our mailing list to be notified.

The ceremonial march-in at Schlachtfest
Guests at Schlachtfest

The Ceremony

The Traditional Send-Off

The ceremony is half solemn, half comic, led by a "Reverend" who delivers the farewell oration and leads the assembly in the funeral song before the feast can begin.

Reverend Don leads the ceremony
Singing the funeral song
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