PHOTO OF THE DAY: WHEN TIMES WERE DIFFERENT

This photo from 1977 shows the Pioneer Hall auditorium all set up for Schmeckfest. This has been the norm since the beginning of the festival, when entertainment followed the traditional German meal, and especially since 1967, when full stage productions began a tradition and a big part of the festival. But COVID-19 has impacted that; “Matilda the Musical” was not staged in 2020 because of the coronavirus pandemic and officials announced this week that the musical would not be presented in 2021, either. Other details about next year’s Schmeckfest are still being worked out. Watch this week’s Courier for the announcement.