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by Sue Orsen The Victoria Gazette The word 'Zeitgeist' has been bandied about for decades but I've heard it more often of late. It speaks to the defining mood and spirit of the times. A word of German origin, Zeit is time, and Geist is ghost or spirit. In German, all nouns are capitalized but not in the Gazette. In this centennial year, I would say that our political zeitgeist is polarized, our religious zeitgeist is worldly, our economic zeitgeist is alarming. What will people living in 2115 say about the culture of our nation today, with a 100 year perspective? The word zeitgeist has a positive connotation when referencing Victoria, and much of it was found at the Volksfest celebrated the weekend of August 14th this year. You are most likely aware that the word 'Volksfest,' too, speaks to a German heritage and a festival of the folks. It is evident we are living in an era when Victoria's downtown zeitgeist is inviting, our community zeitgeist is contagious, and our neighborhood zeitgeist is family friendly. It's an engaging culture. Temperatures on Friday of the Volksfest hovered around 95 degrees with drenching humidity as the Wendinger Band played their polkas and waltzes under the big tent. But lower temps and breezes of Saturday improved the clime and the crowd and revealed the zeitgeist of Victoria. Early on Saturday evening, people moved in to claim front row seats from which to view the fireworks. First chosen was the block retaining wall down by Stieger Lake. The boulder wall behind it, outlining Bayfront Park, was also a favorite, and people also scooped down to sit on the street curb along Stieger Lake Lane. The most comfortable seats for viewing the fireworks were found across the street at the outdoor patios of the Victoria House and Vic's Bar and Grill. The barge floating near the shoreline on Stieger Lake was the focal point and home base of the fireworks. According to Randy Miller, president of the Victoria Business Association, the barge is 10 by 30 feet, weighs 7 tons, and comes, as in other years, free of charge from Concept Landscaping in Mound. It is delivered by the Blue Lagoon Marina of Spring Park. Randy said the trick to getting the monster into the lake at the public access involves the City of Victoria Public Works employees and backhoe, logistics, and generous businesses and individuals. A permit from the Three Rivers Park District gives authorization to launch from their shores. As dusk turned to dark around 10 o'clock, hundreds of other residents didn't mind standing in the streets or on the grassy slope to see the show. Randy estimated this year's fireworks crowd alone was around 1,500. Programmed electronically, the fireworks are purchased from RES Specialty Pyrotechnics of Belle Plaine, who also creates the theme that Randy approves. Lennar Homes, a builder of single family neighborhoods in Victoria, has sponsored the Victoria fireworks these past four years. The zeitgeist of yesterday's Victoria could be described as rural, rustic, and relatives. Today, in an era of growth and transformation, the zeitgeist of Victoria is inviting, contagious, and engaging. The spirit of the times shone clearly at the Volksfest, in the skies on the shores of Stieger Lake.
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September 2015 |
