City of Arlington and Sister City to Share Honors on Oct. 10
German Day Council Salutes 58 Year-Old Friendship
The City of Arlington and a delegation from Bad Königshofen,
Germany will receive special honors during the 47th Annual
German Pioneer Ball. This strong sister-city relationship
has endured more than five decades. The gala is Saturday,
Oct. 10, in Irving.
The delegation from Germany arrived Monday, Oct. 5 and
included Burgermeister Thomas Helbling, Council Member Helmut
Zenher and six other town representatives. Their visit to
North Texas to attend the Pioneer Ball also includes a
welcome reception on Monday and tours of the Cowboys
Stadium, UT Arlington and Ballpark in Arlington. Itinerary
is below.
Since 1951, Arlington has embraced Bad Königshofen, a small
northern Bavarian town in west Germany located about 100
miles north of Franfurt/Main. The friendship began 58 years
ago when residents and businesses in Arlington began
shipping food and clothing to refugees who traveled into
their small town, escaping the communist east. Arlington’s
contributions brought a spark of hope to a community
overwhelmed with need.
Today, Bad Königshofen is a town of approximately 7,000
residents. Arlington residents have maintained a special
friendship with town leaders while growing relationships
with its government and business sectors. In honor of the
55th anniversary of this friendship, Arlington dedicated the
Bad Königshofen Family Aquatic Center in southwest Arlington
in 2006. Bad Königshofen has a downtown recreational park
named Arlington in honor of our city.
The Pioneer Ball will begin at 6 p.m. at the Sheraton Grand
Hotel in Irving and feature live music and a grand
celebration of a German heritage and cultural influence that
was central to the early formation of Texas. In 1963, Texas
officially designated Oct. 6 as German Day in Texas, and the
Texas German Day Council was formed to continue building
bridges of friendship between American and German citizens.
Thursday, Oct. 8
3 p.m. - International Peace Memorial at Gene Allen Park
3:30 p.m. - George W. Hawkes Central Library Tour
4:30 p.m. - Cowboys Stadium Tour
Friday, Oct. 9
10 a.m. - Martin High School Tour
11:30 - Northstar School Tour
1 p.m. - Arlington Board of Realtors Chili Cook-Off
3 p.m. - Glassblowing demonstrations at UT-Arlington with
Artist David Keen
6 p.m. - Friends of Bad Konigshofen picnic and barbecue and
visit to Bad Königshofen
Family Aquatic Center
Saturday, Oct. 10
Free Time - Outings to include visits to Arlington
Highlands, Rangers Ballpark in Arlington, the new
Decorator’s Warehouse and Texas State Fair in Dallas
6 p.m. - 47th Annual German Pioneer Ball in Irving
Sunday, Oct. 11
10:30 a.m. - Brunch at Ventana Grille at Tierra Verde Golf
Club
12:30 - Depart for DFW
4:15 - Lufthansa Flight to Germany
