* The Athenaeum Foundation will host its annual St. Benno Fest from 7 to 10 p.m. Saturday, April 26, at the Rathskeller Kellersaal Ballroom in the Athenaeum.
St. Benno Fest – one of the city’s oldest and longest-running cultural events – celebrates the welcoming of spring and features German food, bier, a six-foot billy goat and a special appearance from St. Benno. Guests are invited to fill their commemorative steins and dance the night away as they enjoy the annual celebration.
“This annual event has been celebrated at the Athenaeum for well over a century,” said Athenaeum Foundation President Craig Mince. “We are looking forward to celebrating the return of St. Benno and hosting an event for our community to learn more about German culture and heritage.”
Tickets to St. Benno Fest are $50 each, which includes admission to the event, a handmade commemorative stein, a pour of the Athenaeum’s specialty Doppelbock bier from Guggman Haus Brewing and a buffet of delicious Rathskeller food.
St. Benno was born in Hildesheim, Germany, in 1010, became bishop of Meissen in 1066 and was canonized in 1523 by Pope Adrian VI. His remains were later moved to Munich, where he has since been known as the patron saint of Munich, as well as the patron saint of anglers and weavers.
St. Benno Fest began back in 1913 when Lowenbrau brewery in Munich named a bock beer after St. Benno, the city’s patron saint. Bock beer had been brewed in Einbeck, Germany since the 14th century, and people in Munich pronounced Einbeck as “ein Bock,” which means billy goat. St. Benno, billy goats and beer have been intertwined in German tradition ever since.
For more information about St. Benno Fest and to purchase tickets, visit athenaeumindy.org.
* The Englewood Review of Books and Englewood Press will celebrate the newest release in its Cultivating Communities Series – The Virtue of Dialogue: Becoming a Thriving Church Through Conversation – at 6:30 p.m. Monday, April 21, at Englewood Christian Church.
The book by Indianapolis author C. Christopher Smith explores some of the history and story of the Near Eastside church at 57 N. Rural St. The book examines how the church’s practice of conversation has renewed the congregation and upended conventional “best practices” for churches who wish to engage their neighborhoods.
The evening will include a book reading and refreshments.
