PROFILE
Herr Bürgermeister
With an unparalleled knowledge of local history, a family dating back to Cullman’ s early settlers, and an active hand in historic preservation, Edgar Veigl is the perfect ambassador for Cullman’ s festival season and beyond.
Story by CHRIS MCCARTHY Photos by AMANDA SHAVERS
As a fourth-generation German Cullman resident, local homebuilder, landlord, preservationist and historian, Edgar Veigl is well known throughout the city, county and surrounding area.
Following the first weekend in October, his name will be officially etched in local history.
Veigl is the Bürgermeister for the 44th annual Cullman Oktoberfest. Every year, the Cullman Oktoberfest committee selects one community member to carry the festival ' s German heritage, including appearing at the event ' s opening ceremonies, moving through the biergartens and vendor rows, and welcoming visitors from across the region.
In 2025, the event attracted approximately 75,000 people over its three-day run.
" My family has been in Cullman a long time, and this town has given us a great deal," said Veigl. " Being asked to represent Oktoberfest is an honor and one of those moments in life that I ' ll never forget. I intend to spend those four days doing what I already enjoy, which is talking with people about where Cullman came from. I ' m excited to attend as many events as possible."
One of the fun events will be the Tapping of the First Keg during opening ceremonies.
" You don ' t want to mess that up," Veigl said with a laugh. " There is some thought that the festival might draw up to 90,000 attendees this year, which is a lot of beer!"
Cullman Mayor Woody Jacobs pointed out that the Bürgermeister is the person who carries the city ' s heritage through the festival from start to finish.
" Edgar has been carrying it here for decades already," Jacobs said. " Oktoberfest reminds our residents that our German heritage is not a theme we put on once a year- it is our history."
In recent years, the role of Bürgermeister has seen an expansion well outside the Oktoberfest season. The Cullman Christkindlmarkt, that runs from Nov. 19 through Dec. 23, 2026, is modeled after traditional German Christmas markets. Cullman’ s market, a Hallmark’ s Merriest Christmas Town finalist, drew more than 400,000 visitors in 2025. As Bürgermeister, Veigl serves as Grand Marshal of the Christkindlmarkt Parade, which kicks off the market season, and he will continue in his role as community ambassador throughout the Christkindlmarkt’ s season.
In that endeavor, Cullman couldn’ t ask for a better representative.
18 Cullman magazine | HOLIDAY 2026