Before the arrival of warmer weather, band leader Walt Groller welcomed people to downtown Germansville for the annual Austreibungsfest, translated "chasing winter away."

He said the Germansville downtown was getting pretty crowded.

The American-German Union, however, was on the outskirts of Germansville and held its yearly festival in the Goodwill Fire Company social hall.

Alice, a board figure, gave the welcome, saying, "Willkommen Zum, Austreibungsfest.

State Rep. Gary Day, R-187th, visited with some of the people who had come to dance.

Groller said they would do some beer songs later, but first he wanted to do a wine song from Austria.

He said many people like the old songs, some of which are seasonal such as "Apple Blossom Time."

He followed that with "Sentimental Journey."

Groller announced the beer song he had promised and asked everyone to sing along.

Door prizes and others for a drawing were announced and something new was added to the annual event in the form of a Mr. and Ms. Austreibungsfest drawing.

Anyone interested in earning the honor was invited to place his or her name in a box for a special drawing.

The winners were Tim Kent and Karen Patton.

They won colorful aprons and leis, and led the next dance. Don Eckhart gave out the prizes and tied the aprons.

Groller then played something unusual: rock and roll. This was followed by a song he wrote while on the road, "Going Home."

After a hot dinner, highlighted by German sausage, Groller announced the next song, called "Schatz (sweetheart) and Beer."

"What more could anyone want?" he wondered, asking how many guests were married 60 years.

Lee and Carolyn Schoeicher said they were.

"For all your longevity in marriage we'll play 'Look at Us,'" he said.

"After all these years together, after all the dreaming …if you want to see what true love should be, look at us."

The couple led the dance as others swayed in a circle.

Groller pointed out his own wife and said they had 58 years together.

"Sweet Caroline" was played to honor the victims of the Boston bombings.

"Hands touching hands, reaching out, touching me, touching you."

"Easter Parade" closed out the event and next year's Austreibungsfest will be held March 22, 2015.