Dust off your walking shoes and get ready for bratwurst. The 23rd Annual Alpine Helen Volkswanderung is stepping back onto the scene Saturday, April 26, and we have the inside scoop.
In this episode of NOW We’re Talking, Jerry takes you behind the scenes of one of Helen’s most charming and unexpected traditions: the Volkswanderung — a European-style “people’s walk” that is part scenic hike, part cultural celebration, and 100 percent fun.
He is joined by Alpine Helen Volksmarch Club President Rob Powell and Treasurer Bryan Meckley, who explain how this decades-old tradition made its way from the trails of Germany to the mountains of North Georgia and why it is picking up momentum again.
With your choice of a 10K mountain hike to Unicoi or a 5K riverside stroll on the flat, pet and stroller friendly Hardman Heritage Trail, there is a route for every age and ability. And when the walking is done, the celebration kicks off. Think live German music, beer, food, prize drawings, and a whole lot of gemütlichkeit.
It is not a race. It is a revival. And whether you are there for the views, the brews, or the chance to try something new, the Volkswanderung is a walk worth taking.
Tune in to find out why Helen is not just about Oktoberfest anymore.
