Volunteers Drive Das Awkscht Fescht

The 48th annual Das Awkscht Fescht opened at 6 a.m. this morning for walk-in guests, and the cars start rolling in at 7:30.

While the event is known for the thousands of antique and classic cars that are showcased in it is the hundreds of volunteers who ensure a smooth ride for all of those attending the festivities.

There is no paid Das Awkscht Fescht staff, making volunteer efforts imperative to the event’s success. Every task, from setting up the fence to directing traffic is accomplished by volunteers. Headed by the Das Awkscht Fescht Committee, a small group of volunteer members who are responsible for organizing the event, upwards of 500 volunteers will work at the Fescht this year, many of whom have a longstanding history with the event.

Mike Delong, chairperson of gates and admissions for the Das Awkscht Fescht Committee, has been volunteering at the Fescht since it first began in 1964. The grandson of William Shoemaker, the first president of Macungie Memorial Park, Delong is well acquainted with the tremendous effort it takes to pull off the event year after year.

For the Fescht, Delong recruits and manages 125 volunteers, mostly relying on a core group of family and friends to oversee admissions. “The volunteers for the Fescht started out as a group of family and friends, but it has grown over the years,” he said, noting that there are people who come from as far as the Pocono region to help out with the event and that anyone can volunteer through the Fescht’s website.

Having held his position on the Das Awkscht Fest Committee for over 20 years, Delong has nothing but praise for the entire Fescht staff. “Everyone involved is such a pleasure to work with,” he said. “They’re a breed of people who are willing to sacrifice their time for a good cause.”

All of the proceeds from Das Awkscht Fescht benefit Macungie Memorial Park. As a private organization, the park receives no tax dollars from the Macungie Borough and relies on events, like the Fescht, to maintain the grounds and facilities. As the leading fundraiser, the Fescht enables the park to continue functioning as the communal epicenter that so many residents of Macungie and the surrounding areas enjoy on a daily basis.

“If the Fescht didn’t happen, Macungie Memorial Park would not exist like it does today,” Delong said.

Looking toward the future, the members of the Das Awkscht Fescht Committee hope that they will see volunteers from the younger generation step up as older volunteers begin to step down. The majority of volunteers are over 50 years of age.

At present, there is not a younger group of people in place to take over for those who are currently serving, Delong says, but the Committee is optimistic about recruiting younger volunteers over the next few years.

For now, they are focused on delivering another successful event.  “It’s an amazing effort to pull off something like this,” Delong says. “I just want all the volunteers to know how much their efforts are appreciated.”

For more information on how to get involved with Das Awkscht Fescht, visit the Fescht website at http://www.awkscht.com.