German Community Life and Traditions
Discover the lively legacy of German immigrants in Wisconsin through this engaging presentation that explores how Old World traditions blended with a uniquely Wisconsin identity. From singing societies and beer halls to vibrant theater, music, and a bustling German-language press, these communities helped shape a rich, multi-ethnic culture. Learn how their influence lives on today in events like Christmas markets and Oktoberfests—celebrations that may be German in origin but are unmistakably Wisconsin in spirit. A University of Wisconsin Badger Talk.
Antje Petty is the Associate Director of the Max Kade Institute for German-American Studies, where she shares her expertise on German-speaking immigration and heritage through lectures, workshops, and public programs. Her research explores emigration from German-speaking Europe and the experiences of German immigrants and their descendants in North America.
