The Mayor’s International Committee will be hosting Esslingen Fest, sponsored by Johnsonville and 3 Sheeps Brewery, celebrating the Sister City partnership with Esslingen, Germany. This event celebrates the spirit of “Zwiebelfest”– Onion Fest! The event will take place on Sunday, October 14, 2018 from 11:00 am to 4:00 pm at 3 Sheeps Brewing Taproom located in the former Coca-Cola bottling plant at 1837 North Avenue. Admission is FREE and this event is OPEN TO THE PUBLIC! Johnsonville Sausage and 3 Sheeps Brewing Company are sponsors of this event which will feature 3 Sheeps craft beer, German bratwurst and potato salad, grilled onions, and onion specialties. This year Grant Pauly, owner of 3 Sheeps, said that, “to keep with the Onion Festival theme, yes, it’s true that we will feature an onion beer! It will be a Cashmere Hammer Stout Infused with Sweet Vidalia Onions.” A keg tapping of the featured beer will take place at 11:30. Entertainment at the event will feature the Ryan Kautzer Band playing polka tunes. There will also be silent auctions and raffle drawings throughout the day.
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The first week of August this year when Sheboygan was celebrating Brat Days, during that same time Esslingen, Germany was celebrating annual Zwiebelfest, or Onion Fest. The tradition of Zwiebelfest dates back to the Middle Ages. According to the legend, the devil requested an apple from a woman at Esslingen’s market. Instead of an apple, the cagey woman provided the devil with an onion. Once the devil tasted the “fake” apple, he screamed: “These are your apples! That’s ridiculous. This is an onion, a spicy onion.” And that is why from now on you will be called ‘onions’ instead of Esslingen. According to the story, shortly after the incident, the devil left Esslingen and never returned.
This past summer People to People conducted a three-week middle school exchange with Sheboygan students and Esslingen students. They also conduct a year-long high school exchange, first semester in Sheboygan and second semester in Esslingen. Students are paired and live with their partner’s family. For more information on the exchange programs contact Ann Keckonen at 920-457-4318.
The Mayor’s International Committee members are city residents who are empowered to represent and further the City’s commitment to understanding and friendship between our Sister Cities and Sheboygan. Each year the committee hosts a variety of events for the foreign exchange students visiting our city.