Welcome to Frankenmuth, the bizarre ‘German’ city that could swing the US election

Visitors to the bizarre town of Frankenmuth are greeted by a colorful sign with the German word for welcome: ‘Willkommen’.

There’s Old World toy town architecture and lots of beer, bratwurst and lederhosen. Outside Cheese Haus, owned by the same family for generations, locals carve blocks of cheddar into towering sculptures every June during a festival.

You’d be forgiven for thinking you’ve stumbled across a quaint European city. But Cheese Haus is not in the countryside Germanyit’s on Main Street in America’s heartland, because Frankenmuth is in the middle of a major election swing state Michigan.

The city is known as Little Bavaria in Michigan (after the German state) and has a population of approximately 5,000. The city is known for its Oktoberfest, which has the honor of being the first official celebration of the festival outside of Munich.

Joe Biden comfortably won Michigan in the Elections 2020 But Donald Trump has a small lead there in the polls for the November rematch. Frankenmuth is Trump country – and if Trump wants to return to the White House he needs the kind of dominant victory there that he managed Hillary Clinton in 2016.

The majority of Frankenmuth residents voted for Donald Trump in the past two elections — but greater Saginaw County, an electoral bellwether, is far less predictable

Frankenmuth is a unique German-themed town located on the Cass River in Michigan

The name Frankenmuth itself is distinctly German – with ‘Franken’ being a nod to the region of Franconia and ‘mut’ meaning ‘courage’.

Biden received 33% of the city’s votes against Trump, but Clinton only got 26% — helping Trump claim the state of Michigan by a slim 0.23% margin in his 2016 triumph.

Saginaw County, where Frankenmuth is located, could hardly be stricter electorally. Trump won by about 1,000 votes in 2016 and lost by just 300 votes in 2020.

Given Michigan’s history as a swing state, Trump’s success in counties with inconsistent voting results could be critical to his chances in November.

Since 1992, Saginaw County residents have chosen the statewide winner in every election, making it a winner electoral clock.

Of the 24 towns in Saginaw, Frankenmuth is perhaps the most distinctive.

Located on the banks of the Cass River, about 90 miles northwest of Detroit, it has taken its history very seriously for centuries.

The area was inhabited in 1845 by a small group of Germans led by Reverend August Craemer.

The borough is home to the Frankenmuth Cheese Haus and themed events such as an annual Oktoberfest celebration and an outdoor Christmas market

The city’s architecture consists of arches, towers and wooden frames, all elements of Frankish design

The area was settled by a small group of Germans in 1845 and has retained its rich history ever since

Winters also have a cozy German atmosphere, with a huge Christmas tree decorated with 32,000 lights flashing at the right time to festive music

On January 3, 1854, the residents formally organized themselves as a township. The village of Frankenmuth was founded in 1904 and the municipality was granted city status on October 1, 1959.

Since then, Frankenmuth has retained its history, including its distinctive name – with ‘Franken’ being a nod to the Franconia region and ‘mut’ being the German word for ‘courage’.

Most striking of all is the city’s architecture, with arches, towers and wooden frames, all staples of Frankish design.

“The city of Frankenmuth is proud of its Bavarian heritage, traditional small-town appeal and strong downtown development patterns,” read the guidelines laid out in a city ordinance.

“Bavarian architecture is not required, but incorporating accurate Bavarian architecture into new buildings, renovations or expansions is welcomed and encouraged.”

The guidelines prescribe that at least half of the facade of each ‘main building’ facing the street must be constructed of brick, natural stone or sawn concrete blocks.

Frankenmuth is also home to some unique German events. Each May, the community hosts the World Expo of Beer, Michigan’s largest beer sampling event.

This is not to be confused with Oktoberfest, which has been celebrated in the city for over 30 years.

Following an official proclamation by the German parliament in 1996, Oktoberfest in Frankenmuth became the first to take place with the blessing of the original celebration in Munich.

With the proclamation, the Hofbrauhaus Brewery in Munich also began shipping their beer to the United States for the first time in history. The brewery became the official beer sponsor of the event in 1997.

Every May, the city hosts the World Expo of Beer, Michigan’s largest beer sampling event

The Frankenmuth Cheese House celebrated its 2018 reopening with a 1,375-pound cheese sculpture

Frankenmuth is also known for its chicken dinners, and two restaurants – Zehnder’s and the Bavarian Inn – serve more than two million each year

The chicken is served with buttered noodles and old-fashioned German stuffing

The community of about 5,000 residents is billed as Michigan’s ‘Little Bavaria’

Frankenmuth is known for its chicken dinners. At the aptly named Bavarian Inn Restaurant, families gather to eat traditional chicken dishes with sauerkraut, gravy, buttered noodles and old-fashioned German stuffing.

Frankenmuth’s open-air Christmas market, or Christkindlmarkt, is an attraction that draws tourists from all over the country. It includes more than 80 vendors and mulled wine, warm German spiced wine.

Polka bands and costumed entertainers take to the streets of the city center for the annual Bavarian Festival. The event features a traditional maypole, the centerpiece of many European folk festivals.

Attendees dance around the pole, which is decorated with flowers tied by long ribbons attached to the top of the pole.

The Cheese Haus has been in town ever since 1968. It features a 1,375-pound cheese sculpture and a 75-foot tower where tours can be taken. Cheese making is provided by animatronics dressed in lederhosen and other traditional clothing.

Frankenmuth has two indoor water park hotels and in winter there is a Christmas tree decorated with 32,000 lights that twinkle in time to festive music.

‘Willkommen. In German it means welcome. An offer to participate,” reads the city’s official website.

‘If we need to simplify the agenda, if we need to spend the whole day with our children, instead of hearing about it just before bedtime, come and feel the warm welcome of Frankenmuth, where you will surely find the simple pleasures of life.’