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Late rush nets Brat Fest record

Lynn Welch  —  5/27/2008 10:08 am

There's a new record at the World's Largest Brat Fest.

Event organizers said Sunday evening that 191,712 brats were served at this year's four-day festival, breaking the record of 189,432 set in 2004.

"At 5 (p.m.) I didn't think we could get it done," organizer Tim Metcalfe said. "We went out to the (entertainment) stages and had them make an announcement that if everyone buys just one more brat we could possibly pull it off."

The plea helped.

Otto Kraus, 22, of Rozeville, Wis., bought the final sausage at about 6 p.m. The four-year-old record was broken at about 5:45 p.m. when Jim and Veronica Kleckner of Madison purchased brat No. 189,433.

But organizers didn't reach their goal of selling 200,000 brats.

"There was a point where we were breaking records every year and thought 'When will it slow down?'" Metcalfe said. "We went backward when we moved out to Willow Island."

In 2005, the 26-year-old charity event moved from Metcalfe Sentry Foods' parking lot at the Hilldale Shopping Center to Willow Island near the Alliant Energy Center. What had been a community event turned into a city-wide festival that begged for more than just brats.

A carnival was added. And, this year, music stages.

"People really came out to listen to the music," Metcalfe said. "That's what we needed to be successful here. It needed to be more than just brats."

Great weekend weather and high gas prices also helped boost brat sales, Metcalfe said.

Warm weather will not stick around, however.

The National Weather Service predicts cool temperatures tonight, at about 41 degrees and a 20-degree drop in summer-like conditions for Tuesday. Tuesday's forecast is for mostly sunny skies and temperatures near 59. Tuesday night, expect a low around 37.

Brat Fest started in 1982 to raise money for local charities. Since then, it has changed venues and gained big-name sponsorship. The event still benefits charity groups who provide volunteers to serve up brats at the festival.

Bratwurst for the festival were provided by Johnsonville Brats, the event's main sponsor.

Lynn Welch  —  5/27/2008 10:08 am