Strassenfest News

The Jasper Strassenfest Committee announced that a winner has come forward to claim the 2025 Half Pot Prize.  After confirmation that the ticket was valid, committee members met at the Jasper Chamber of Commerce to present the $77,900 check to the winners, a couple from Jasper who wish to remain anonymous.  

In its fifth year, the pot total reached $155,800, the highest total to date.  A large portion of the proceeds will benefit the Vincennes University Jasper Scholastic Excellence Scholarship Fund which provides tuition, a laptop and $500 book stipend for local student recipients.  Proceeds will also be used to support the community and financial stability of the Jasper Strassenfest. The winning ticket draw took place on Friday, August 15th at the Jasper Chamber of Commerce.   

Although they wish to remain anonymous, the half pot winners shared they are lifelong residents of Jasper and have bought a ticket every year since the Half Pot event began, appreciating that the proceeds help to benefit local students and their community.  After purchasing the ticket during a Friday visit to the Strassenfest, they tucked it away upon returning home.  They remembered to check their ticket after reading in the Dubois County Free Press evening newsletter that the pot was still unclaimed, 11 days after the drawing took place.  They stated that while they don’t have any definite plans for using their winnings, they want to find a way to give back to the community and treat themselves to something they enjoy with the unexpected funds.  

Members of both the Jasper Strassenfest committee and the VUJ Foundation wish to express their continued gratitude to the community and festival goers who support the Half Pot event. They will hold a check presentation to the VUJ Scholastic Excellence Scholarship fund at a later date.   

Sales for the 2025 Jasper Strassenfest Half Pot event will begin Monday, June 2 with tickets available for purchase at the Jasper Chamber of Commerce and VU Jasper bookstore during business hours, and at various events through the month of June. Starting on July 3, the on-site “Big Red Ticket Booth” will open in front of Ruler Foods in Jasper and continue through mid-August.  A listing of hours and locations can be found at jasperstrassenfest.org/halfpot

The event, in its third year, is in conjunction with the Jasper Strassenfest which will take place July 30 – August 3, 2025 on Jasper’s downtown square.  Proceeds will once again benefit the VU Jasper Scholastic Excellence Fund to include one year of full tuition, a $500 book stipend, and laptop for local scholarship recipients. Proceeds will also help to provide a strong financial base for the continuation and growth of the Strassenfest and the Jasper community.  The 2024 pot total climbed to $154,765 with Molly and Bob Tuggle of Troy, IN taking home the half pot prize of $77,382.50.

Once again this year, raffle tickets may be purchased using cash or credit card. Tickets will be sold in the following amounts: one (1) ticket for $5.00, three (3) tickets for $10.00, twenty (20) tickets for $20.00, fifty (50) tickets for $40.00, or one hundred fifty (150) tickets for $100.00.

Beginning Monday, June 2, tickets will be available for purchase during business hours at the Jasper Chamber Office and VU Jasper Bookstore.  Starting July 3, you will find Jasper Strassenfest committee members and VUJ representatives selling tickets in front or Ruler Foods in Jasper every Wednesday, Thursday and Friday from 3:00-6:00PM and Saturday and Sunday from 8:00AM-2:00PM.  Sales will take place through the Strassenfest weekend and post-fest hours well be published at a later time. Follow the Jasper Strassenfest and VU Jasper Facebook pages and find a complete listing of booth ticket sale dates and times on the Strassenfest website.  

You must be 18 years of age to participate in the half pot raffle.  License number, rules and regulations can be found online at jasperstrassenfest.org/halfpot.

The theme celebrates the continuation of a strong partnership that rests on the pillars of common origin and heritage between Jasper, Indiana and Pfaffenweiler, Germany. In 1846, residents of Pfaffenweiler, Germany, settled in Jasper, Indiana. In 1984, 138 years later, residents of Dubois County returned to Pfaffenweiler and asked the community to be a Jasper Sister City. The Sister City relationship between Pfaffenweiler and Jasper was finalized in 1985.

The Strassenfest Committee chose the theme to show appreciation for the people who have worked over the past 40 years to facilitate programs and events to cultivate an appreciation of our culture and enhance the lives of the people that call our communities home. They are excited to welcome a number of Pfaffenweiler residents to Jasper who will participate in various events throughout this year’s Strassenfest.

Diana started her apprenticeship in the city hall of Pfaffenweiler in September of 1984, serving Mayor Fritz Gutgsell. She has been a member of the Partnership Committee of Pfaffenweiler since 2011 and now serves as Assistant to Pfaffenweiler Mayor, Lukas Mahler. 

Lois Kuntz began her career in the Mayor’s Office in 1992 when she was hired as an Assistant by Mayor Bill Schmitt.  In 1997, she helped establish the Jasper Partnership Commission and served as its Secretary so the two communities could more easily coordinate activities, events, and visits. 

Information for non-profit organizations interested in running a booth or event at the 2025 Jasper Strassenfest will be available on February 1st at jasperstrassenfest.org. Sponsorship inquiries and general questions about the Strassenfest can be directed to the Jasper Chamber of Commerce at 812-482-6866.

The Jasper Strassenfest Committee is pleased to announce the theme and Hoffmarschalls, as well as a highly anticipated location change, for the 46th Annual Jasper Strassenfest to be held August 1-4, 2024 in downtown Jasper, Indiana. The theme for the 46th Annual Jasper Strassenfest is “German Flair on the Square”, which marks the festival’s return to its original location around the downtown courthouse square.   

The Strassenfest Committee chose the theme to celebrate the rejuvenated downtown square and to emphasize the important role that Jasper’s downtown businesses play in our community.  In keeping with the theme, longtime Jasper downtown business owners and advocates, Jim Siebert and Maureen Braun, will represent the Greater Downtown Jasper Business Association (GDJBA) as Co-Hoffmarschalls.  Jim and Maureen will be recognized during opening ceremonies and will represent the GDJBA in the Jasper Strassenfest parade held Sunday, August 4th.  Laura Grammer will serve in her second year as the Jasper Strassenfest Chairman.   

The Greater Downtown Jasper Business Association is a group of over 100 locally owned and operated small businesses – from hardware, clothing, furniture, decor and more stores to restaurants, salons, and anything in between.  The GDJBA promotes Jasper as a place to live, eat, play, stay, and work – through retail efforts and special community events, as well as putting physical and financial support right back into Jasper.  Whether a merchant has been a part of GDJBA for 1 year or 100 years, their mission remains steadfast – to collaboratively provide Jasper’s residents and its visitors with outstanding products and service.

The familiarity of the Dubois County not-for-profit booths, games and events along with free entertainment will again return to the downtown square.  New, will be the excitement of the updated layout which accommodates the beautiful changes made to the square. The beautification project in progress on North and South Main Streets will also be incorporated.  Festival maps with the location of your favorite booths, events, and entertainment will be shared closer to the date of the Strassenfest.

Past Dubois County not for-profit booths and event contacts have received initial communication.  Non-profit groups interested in participating in this year’s Strassenfest should visit jasperstrassenfest.org for details. 

The Jasper Strassenfest committee wants to express their gratitude to all past sponsors for making the Jasper Strassenfest a premier German Festival.  All financial support is used to provide free entertainment, events, activities and infrastructure for the 4-day festival.  Sponsorship request letters will soon be mailed to past sponsors.  Anyone wanting to provide financial support to the Jasper Strassenfest can call the Jasper Chamber of Commerce at 812-482-6866.