The Gemuetlichkeit Days festival is just around the corner, and the Mecki contest is on — starting on September 8th, 2023! The Mecki is a fictional German hedgehog cartoon character that was created by German artist, Ferdinand Diehl, for the popular German magazine HorZu — making his debut in 1949. Mecki loves to play tricks and practical jokes. Mecki has been the unofficial mascot of Jefferson's Gemuetlichkeit Days festival for decades. Our "Find the Mecki!" contest involves a 3-1/2 to 4-inch doll that resembles the famous German hedgehog. The Mecki is hidden within the Jefferson area in a public place. Clues to finding the Mecki will be posted daily after the start of the contest around 3:00 p.m. each day. The clues will be published, daily, in the Daily Jefferson County Union, the Watertown Daily Times, and at the Jefferson Public Library after 3:00 p.m. When Mecki is found, the finder must take the Mecki to the Jefferson Public Library. The Library will contact the Gemuetlichkeit Contest chairperson. A $100 Cash Prize and the Mecki doll will be awarded to the lucky winner!
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Jessica Havill of Jefferson located the “hedge-hog cartoon character” — relating to Jefferson’s Gemuetlichkeit Days which will take place this weekend. Mecki was found this year at Riverfront Park in one of the dugouts on a softball field. Thank you again to TDS Telecom for sponsoring the prize money for this fun, annual Gemeutlichkeit contest!
