By by Suzanna Malliett

It has become a town tradition for local history lovers and bons vivants alike to gather on the grounds of Körner’s Folly for a special celebration each fall. Since 2011, the Körner’s Folly Foundation has hosted the Kernersville Oktoberfest on the first Saturday of October to raise funds for the historic home.

The story of Körner’s Folly begins in the Schwarzwald, or Black Forest, region of Germany, in the small town of Furtwangen. The region was known for its production of clocks, especially those of grandfather and cuckoo varieties. It was here that Joseph Körner was born in 1769. As a second son, he would not inherit property, and decided to leave his home at the age of 16 to seek his fortune in a new world, making business connections as a clock-maker from his hometown wherever he traveled. Joseph arrived in what would become North Carolina in 1787, attracted by its peaceful and prosperous German-speaking Moravian residents, he decided to purchase land in the Friedland settlement. Kerner also purchased the property known as Dobson’s Crossroads, renaming it “Kerner’s Crossing.” In 1871, the town of Kernersville was incorporated, taking its name from the well-known establishment at the intersection of Mountain and Main Streets.

Joseph’s grandson, Jule Gilmer Körner, was born in 1851, and would study painting and photography, as well as working in advertising, before branching out into interior design. His masterpiece, Körner’s Folly, evolved into a structure that served as a showcase for his clients as well as his family home, community event venue, and an unforgettable example of an eclectic and eccentric Victorian style.

Today, the nonprofit Körner’s Folly Foundation is proud to continue Jule and his family’s legacy of hospitality, and to maintain and improve the condition of the unusual home, which is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Of the building’s 22 rooms, 17 have been restored to their appearance during the Körner family’s day. Restoration, which involves depicting the form, features, and character of a property from a particular time period, includes removing modern elements over time, replicating and repairing missing or damaged woodwork and tile, refinishing and cleaning architectural surfaces, and returning the rooms and furnishings to their original color schemes.

To support the mission of the Körner’s Folly Foundation to preserve and restore the historic home for the education and enjoyment of the public, local food and beverage sponsors donate their time and samples of their tasty products for all Kernersville Oktoberfest attendees to enjoy!

Beverage sponsors for this year’s event include: Gypsy-Road Brewing Company, Little Brother Brewing, Folly’s Draft & Snack, RH Barringer Distributing, and Childress Vineyards, who will provide a variety of tasty drinks from traditional German pilsners to locally-grown wines.

It would not be the Kernersville Oktoberfest without traditional bratwursts, grilled on-site this year by Chef Charley of CLS Catering, and served up with all the fixings, including sauerkraut. Local bakery, Cake & All Things Yummy, will provide their signature Oktoberfest cupcake flavors, Musten & Crutchfield will be bringing back their world-famous pimento cheese, and C&H Cafeteria will supply their scrumptious pumpkin bread pudding. Chef Trey Prescott will be serving up meatballs and German potato salad, and Chicken Salad Chick of Kernersville will bring their hearty, made-from-scratch chicken salads to the event.
Special thanks are in order to the 2024 presenting sponsors: Kernersville Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram, Martin Bradley Plumbing, and Coltrane & Grubbs, PLLC! Many other local businesses have provided generous support for this year’s event, helping to make the 14th Annual Kernersville Oktoberfest a success for the Körner’s Folly Foundation, as well as a cannot-miss social occasion!

This year’s Oktoberfest will return to the Körner’s Folly campus after a departure to Harmon Park in 2023 due to construction on the Visitors Center. On Saturday, October 5, Körner’s Folly will host a merry celebration from 3:00 – 6:00 pm with German-inspired food and beverages, music, and tours of the historic home beginning at 1:30 pm.

The Körner’s Folly Foundation invites the public to help us reach our goal of restoring the remaining rooms, which include: the Dining Room, the Long Room, the South Guest Room, Bathing Room, and the Reception Room, while enjoying the best seasonal dishes and drinks from the local businesses that keep Kernersville delicious! Bring your lawn chairs and break out the lederhosen for this fun-filled event, held rain or shine. In the event of inclement weather, Oktoberfest will move to an indoor location.

Kernersville Oktoberfest tickets may be purchased in advance at kornersfolly.org. Limited edition t-shirts for this year’s event are also available online and inside the John & Bobbie Wolfe Visitors Center at 401 South Main Street. All event attendees must be 21 years of age or older.
Questions? Email info@kornersfolly.org or call 336.996.7922.