New-Yorker Allgemeine Saengerbund Concert and Pic-nic

Event was originally announced for July 13, but was postponed because of the Draft Riots.  “Their summer night’s festival will take place to-night, when all the societies of the Sangerbund will be present.  The festival of St. James church will take place tomorrow, and of St. John’s church on Wednesday.”

includes program and basic information; following the concert, a dance was scheduled.

Includes program.

“Although the festival of the New York Allgemeinen Sängerbund was thwarted by the riot, you will find it today under the collaboration of all the associations belonging to the league of the New York Turnvereins and more as well. The concert programs and the arrangements of the festival remain unchanged. Everything about this may be found in another page of our journal.”

            “The grand concert and pic-nic of the German Saengerbund of this City, held yesterday, was one of the most marked and delightful of the many pleasant festivals with which our Teutonic fellow-citizens have enlivened that favorite resort during the passing Summer. Notwithstanding the inclement appearance of the morning, a 9 o’clock the member of the various singing clubs that compose the general Saengerbund, or Singers’ Union, assembled at the Metropolitan Rooms in Hester-street—the headquarters of the Association—and were there joined by delegations of the Turners and other societies and military corps who proposed to participate in the féte. The procession, after due deliberation respecting the chances of the weather, finally marched off with flags and martial music, by way of the Bowery, Grand-street, Essex-street and Avenue A and Tenth-street, to the foot of the latter, on the East River, where the steamer Magnolia and the barge Anna, commanded by Capt. SCHNEIDER, afforded the throng conveyance to the place of disembarkation at ‘the Wood.’  In the procession marched the twelve clubs composing the Bund, viz.: The Allemania, the Colonia, the Euphonia, the Germania, the Uhland, the Mozart Verein, the Rheinishe, the Williamsburgh Saengerbund, the Liedertafel, the Lonely and the Schillerbund, headed by Wiegand’s Band, with Company D, of the Fifth regiment New York State National Guard, and Copany I, of the Eleventh regiment N. Y. S. V., making in all some 1,200 persons, Col. HILLEBRAND Acting Grand Marshall.

      About 2 P.M. the concert, vocal and instrumental, assisted chiefly by Wiegand’s celebrated band, commenced, and was conducted according to the following programme;

[program given]

     After the close of the concert dancing commenced on the various handsomely decorated platforms of the grove, and was kept up in every form of graceful and hilarious movement that so distinguishes the Germans in all their merry-makings. It cannot be contested that they are most skillful and persevering dancers, as well as good soldiers and ‘jolly good fellows’ generally. Toward evening the skies cleared and the mellow sunshine streamed richly over field and fell. At the approach of twilight no more magnificent ball-room than the wood and its green, leafy aisles and wide, smooth, grassy lawns, could be conceived, and the multitude, then largely augmented by the crowds ythat streamed to the spot by steamer and by every avenue of approach, redoubled the wildness of their gayety. The various sports of the younger folk, in which a vast amount of romping, tagging and kissing were achieved with apparent satisfaction, scarcely excelled the enthusiasm with which the elder people, parents and friends quaffed mine host SOMMERS’ famous lager and wine, and demolished his substantial cheer. At night a universal illumination with colored lamps converted the scene into Fairyland, and with the jocund employ thay gave to every hour the lads and lassies

           ‘Thought nae long

                            ‘till morn.’

     We are glad to learn that this charming Festival has comfortably replenished the funds of the Saengerbund by several hundred dollars.  It was computed on the ground, that 10,000 persons participated in the gay occasion.

     The original date of the Festival was to have been the 13th of July, but it was postponed owing to the great riot.”

“The delegates from New York’s singing clubs who participated in the August Picnic and Summer Night’s Festival to benefit the German Hospital, are requested to attend the final session at the Steuben House today in order to establish the results.  The presence of all delegates is requested.”