A seasonal tradition with its roots in 19th century Germany has found its way to the Lutheran Church of the Messiah in Vicksburg.

Since 1810, when it was held to celebrate the marriage of Bavarian Crown Prince Ludwig to the Saxon-Hildburghausen Princess Therese, Oktoberfest has been a traditional seasonal celebration across Germany and many cities in the United States with populations of German heritage.

It’s a tradition the church of the Messiah has carried on with its Germanfest.

“We began in 1988; we’ve been doing this for 28 years,” said church member Ruth Osburn. “It’s a way we have for raising money for the church.”

This year’s event will take place from 4 to 7 p.m. Oct. 22, in Trinity Hall at the church, 301 Cain Ridge Road, which will be filled with the aroma of brats and other German delicacies.

“We get our brats shipped down from Usinger of Milwaukee, Wisc.,” Osburn said. “We’ve been using their brats since we began. We also presell boxes of brats.”

She said the church usually serves about 100 to 125 brat plates during Germanfest.

A bratwurst plate features a bratwurst sausage served with German potato salad, calico beans and a roll. The potato salad, Osburn said, is served hot.

“German potato salad is served hot with red potatoes, mixed with onions, bacon, and to the bacon grease, you add flour, butter, vinegar, water, sugar, salt and pepper and pour it over the potatoes,” she said. “It tastes better the second day.”

Bratwurst plates are $10, and hot dog plates will be available for $5 for people who don’t like brats.

“You don’t have to buy tickets in advance,” Osburn said. “You can buy your tickets at the door. You can dine in or carry out. If you dine in, there will be a party flavor in the room with all kinds of Germanfest decorations. We’ll have polka music playing, and of course the chicken dance.

“I would say over half the meals walk out the door, but people are welcome to stay here. We have tea, root beer, soft drinks, or you can bring your own beverage,” she said.

And diners will be able to spice up their brats from a selection of companion foods and condiments.

“We will have a condiments area,” she said. “You can fix it with whatever you want. There’s a table where you can put your own fixings with it; there’s sauteed onions, sauerkraut, spicy mustard, plain mustard … some people like ketchup.

“And we have enticing desserts,” she said, adding the event will feature a selection of homemade pies and cakes.

The Lutheran Church of the Messiah was formed in 1950.

According to the church’s history, the groundwork for the church began in 1949, when the Rev. Kenneth Hoffmann came to Vicksburg as chaplain of the Vicksburg Lutheran Hospital, which had been recently acquired by the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod.

Hoffman was asked to begin working toward establishing a congregation in Vicksburg as a mission of the Missouri Synod, and a meeting was held in his home on Jan. 13, 1950, with 14 charter members. The first Lutheran worship services were held in February 1950 in the reception/living room of the Lutheran Hospital Nurses’ Home at 1704 Cherry St.

Services were led by Hoffmann and several vicars over a period of three years. On Ash Wednesday of 1953, the congregation moved across the road into a renovated antebellum home at 1621 Cherry St.

The church received its first full-time pastor when the Rev. Edwin L. Coyner came in March 1954. A year later, in November 1955, the congregation purchased the site of the present church building at 301 Cain Ridge Road, and ground was broken in February 1957. The new building was dedicated in September 1957.

The present pastor is the Rev. J. Richard Sawyer, who also pastors a church in Brandon, and church services are held at 3 p.m. Sundays.