
The Hanover Harvest Festival as we know it today was inspired by the efforts of members of the Family Council Committee - assembled in 1997.
But did you know that the origins of today's festival came from events put together by a group of dedicated citizens known as the "Family Council" in the late 1990's?
The Hanover Harvest Festival as we know it today was inspired by the efforts of members of the Family Council Committee - assembled in 1997.
The first event , "Harvest Fest", was held on October 18-19, 1997. It featured a Pancake Breakfast, Craft Show & a "Candlelight and Cider Hayride" event.
In 1998, the Festival took on some more carnival-like events - Merry Go Round, Dunk Tank Moon Walk and Miniature Golf. This event was held on July 12th.
The Hanover Harvest Festival was re-started in 2005. This treasured yearly event continues to go on due to the efforts of active and dedicated volunteers within our community!
In 1856, two years prior to Minnesota statehood, two adventurous brothers - Jacob and William Vollbrecht - bid farewell to their Hannover, Germany town in search of a better life. They migrated separately to America. Jacob arrived in Wright County first, and homesteaded 160 acres on both sides of the Crow River (Hennepin and Wright counties).
Early records indicate that our small community was first known as Vollbrecht Mills, and not officially named Hanover until 1891 when the town was incorporated. Vollbrecht selected the name in commemoration of his German birthplace. At the time of incorporation, Hanover had 206 residents - mostly German Lutherans.