Bavarian Bulletin - May 5th,  2026 Edition

The new Maibaum was donated by Blue Pine Fuels, who also donated their time with helping with storm cleanup in December! So a very sincere thank you to Blue Pine Fuels! 

Next Steps for the Maibaum:

• On Wednesday, the entire pole will be sealed
• On Thursday, the ribbons will be attached
• On Friday, the metal topper created by the Piestrip Bros and Metal Works in Dryden will be attached, along with the ring of garland, and it will be lifted into the air at 7:00 AM.

KINDERFEST is a high-energy, joy-filled experience packed with bubbles, balloons, sing-alongs, and dancing for all ages. Join Manuela and the Brew Belles as they yodel, wiggle, and boogie through favorites like the Chicken Dance and Baby Shark, with a live DJ keeping the fun going. And don’t worry—adults, you’ll be dancing too.

Manuela’s KINDERFEST (Kids’ Program) FREE:

Saturday, May 9, 3:00-4:00 PM @ the Festhalle Stage

AND LATER THAT EVENING, a second opportunity to see everyone's favorite yodeling star!

Saturday, May 9, 7:00-8:30 PM @ the Festhalle Stage, FREE

The Leavenworth Chamber of Commerce's Annual Report & Economic Profile is now available.  Begun in 2021, the    report this year includes expanded information about the Chamber's operations, funding, and events. Contents include

FEMA will operate a temporary Disaster Assistance Center at the Leavenworth Chamber of Commerce (940 Highway 2, suite B) with FEMA personnel at that location: 

Weekdays, 12:30 – 6pm, May 11 – 22. 

See news release. For information on the types of FEMA assistance available go here.

FEMA’s assistance is available for individual homeowners and renters in Chelan County. FEMA/SBA deadline for homeowner/renter physical property damage applications is June 10, 2026. FEMA partners with SBA to provide long-term relief for small businesses. SBA deadline for small business applications is January 7, 2027.

Every so often, we hear the question: “Do hosted media visits really move the needle?”

The short answer? Absolutely.

In today’s travel landscape, where travelers are exploring destinations through ads, social media, AI search tools, and an abundance of choice; third-party editorial coverage remains one of the most powerful forms of marketing we can earn. When a respected journalist, travel writer, television host, or content creator chooses to tell your story, it carries a level of authenticity that paid advertising simply can’t replicate. And we’re seeing that play out in real time.

Recently, following a hosted visit, travel journalist Angela Caraway Carlton featured Leavenworth in her “Summer Travel Inspiration” segment on WFLA-TV, where Leavenworth was selected as the first of just three destinations highlighted nationwide, alongside South Dakota and Miami. Even better, the segment is syndicated, meaning it has the potential to air on additional NBC stations across the country, giving Leavenworth exposure far beyond a single market. 

Earlier this month, following another hosted visit, journalist Taylor McIntyre’s story went live in Travel + Leisure, one of the most respected travel publications in the world, highlighting the Cascade Loop Scenic Byway and Leavenworth and the incredible experiences travelers can have right here in our region. She also linked to a past Travel + Leisure Leavenworth Guide in her piece.  

These stories didn’t happen by accident. They happened because we invest time in building relationships, responding to pitches, coordinating itineraries, connecting writers with our businesses, and showing media firsthand what makes Leavenworth special.

A hosted visit might mean a couple of hotel nights, a meal, attraction tickets, or simply our time helping tell the story, but the return can be enormous. One well-placed story can inspire thousands, sometimes millions, of potential visitors, create backlinks that help our SEO, feed AI-driven search results, and keep Leavenworth top-of-mind in key travel markets for months or even years.

In other words, sometimes the best media buy… isn’t a media buy at all.

_{*Remember, these are footfalls counted by five cameras locations on Front Street. The numbers are NOT individual people counts, those numbers would be lower.}  

• Haus Party Hef – Their exclusive Hefeweizen collaboration with Icicle Brewing
• Traditional Keg Tapping in their street-side seating area
• Limited-Edition 25th Anniversary Ceramic Stein
• Live Music from Seth Garrido and the Junk Belly Boys

The Leavenworth Recycling Center is entering a new chapter. 

With Waste Loop transitioning from facility operations, the City has an opportunity to pause, evaluate, and plan how they handle glass, cardboard and single-stream recycling in Leavenworth. As they explore new operational strategies, your voice as a local business and/or commercial property owner is an important piece in how we proceed. Please take 4 minutes to share your thoughts in the survey at the link below. Your feedback will directly inform the City’s next steps regarding the Recycle Center. Take the survey here:

Websites
Leavenworthchamber.org
Leavenworth.org

Our mailing address is:
Leavenworth Chamber of Commerce

PO Box 327
940 Highway 2 Suite B
Leavenworth, WA 98826-0327

If you have questions, please call us at (509)548-5807

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