Bratwurst Roast for German-American Friendship Day

On Thursday, September 3, 2026, the City of Jena, together with the U.S. Consulate General in Leipzig, will celebrate the 6th German-American Friendship Day with the now-almost-traditional bratwurst barbecue. Starting at 12:15 p.m., Mayor Thomas Nitzsche and U.S. Consul General Jodi Breisler will be manning the grill at the Holzmarkt. Everyone is invited to sample the grilled delicacies and enjoy a free bratwurst—while supplies last.

Background

In recent years, the City of Jena and the U.S. Consulate General in Leipzig have celebrated German-American Friendship Day on October 6. On this day, the U.S. observes a commemorative day that honors the German heritage in North America and marks the founding of Germantown, whose founders—led by the German preacher Franz Daniel Pastorius—landed in Philadelphia on October 6, 1683. This year, the celebration will take place a little earlier.