“German Day in Texas,” recognized both nationally and internationally, was established to commemorate the arrival of the first German settlers and acknowledge the contributions made by Texans of German descent. Founded unofficially in 1889 to pay tribute to heroic German pioneers, its initial short run lasted until 1910.

It wasn’t until 1963 that the celebration became an officially recognized state institution. The first German Day Proclamation was issued on October 6th, the day German settlers landed in America. Today, “German Day in Texas” salutes German states and cities of Texas and Germany. It also hosts the annual Pioneer Ball, which honors Texas-German heritage, the re-unified Federal Republic of Germany and the 20th anniversary of German Reunification.

The Texas German Day Council, which is seated in Dallas, was founded to organize and celebrate “German Day in Texas.” It is composed of representatives from German-American organizations in Texas, whose goal is to foster mutual understanding and collaboration between German and American cultures.