Restored glockenspiel to make grand debut during Leavenworth Oktoberfest opening weekend

LEAVENWORTH – The historic glockenspiel will return to Front Street during the first weekend of Oktoberfest.

The glockenspiel, located in the Tannenbaum building, was built by Kit Clark and his carpenter father in the 1960s as part of the town’s Bavarian remodel. At set times, the doors would open, music would play, and a crowd would gather below to watch the hand-crafted wood figurines dance around each other. After operating for decades, it is believed to have had its “last dance” in 2011, but the time of cessation has yet to be confirmed.

On Oct. 4, GLM will host a donor appreciation ceremony for the glockenspiel. The glockenspiel will run once, with brief statements from museum stakeholders and potentially donors. The ceremony will last from 10 a.m. to 10:30 a.m.

At 11:30 a.m. on Oct. 5, the glockenspiel will symbolically kick off the Festzug and the weekend activities, in collaboration with the Leavenworth Chamber of Commerce.

Efforts to restore the glockenspiel were led by Tom Phillips, who remembers watching it with his wife and four sons over 40 years ago. Phillips and former Greater Leavenworth Museum (GLM) President Matt Cade met with the building’s owners, Robert and Sherry Schichi. The Schichis gifted the glockenspiel equipment and agreed to lease the space to the museum in perpetuity, and Phillips volunteered his time as a project manager and contractor. 

Once in operation, the glockenspiel will run for just over two minutes on the hour from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m.

Taylor Caldwell: 509-433-7276 or taylor@ward.media