About the Rushmore German
Club
Club Activities
The Rushmore German Club presents the very popular
Sommerfest for 9 days every August at the
Central States
Fair in Rapid City. Locally, our Sommerfest is known simply as
'The German Tent' or "The Beer Tent".
Our first Sommerfest at the Fair was held in 1982 and attendance
has grown year after year. Our 60' x 150' foot festival tent is
filled to overflow capacity on both Friday and Saturday nights
and is a great way to end a day's fairgoing. We feature quality
polka bands brought here from Colorado, and have developed a
strong fan base.
Rick Borger and the Average German Band and Steve Rock's
Tanzkapelle, both from the Denver area, are featured each year at
Sommerfest. Lively dance music, including several novelty numbers
like the Alligator, Train Dance, March Dance, Austrian Wedding
Dance, and the always popular Chicken Dance can be heard
throughout the evenings.
For those who enjoy old style polkas and waltzes, join us on
Sunday and Monday evenings to hear Rapid City's own Happy
Wanderers that feature Club members Leo Volk and Gary Renner.
History Central States Fair Our Purpose