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Brat Fest: Fun, Family and Brats in Beautiful Madison

Embodying the fusion between big city life and small town charm, Madison, Wisconsin is the perfect place for your next vacation. While the city was chosen as the state capital back in 1836, it did not become a city until it received its charter in 1856. At that time, the city had a population of roughly 6,800, and this was mostly comprised of people from the East Coast and immigrants from Europe. As the city grew and established reliable infrastructure, people began to flock to the Madison area. The Civil War saw the Union Army move into the area and build Camp Randall. The camp helped attract even more people to this rapidly growing city. Even though the war ended in 1865, it wasn't until 2004 that all the military training on the site ceased. Currently, Madison is a visually stunning city of over 230,000 people, that is filled with plenty of things to do and friendly people to meet.

 

Activities in the Madison area are diverse and no matter your interests, there is something here for you. Fans of the outdoors will fall in love with Madison in the late spring and early summer. The parks and public areas are lush and perfect for exploring, biking, hiking, games and so much more. If you're a fan of history, Madison is for you. There are multiple museums, historic landmarks and buildings that you can visit to get a comprehensive history lesson of this unique area. Whether you're looking to catch live music at one of the great local venues or you're trying to check out some cutting edge art at one of the local galleries, Madison has it all. The dining is diverse and you’ll have no trouble finding the meal you're looking for. Madison is also home to some fun community-wide festivals and events. One in particular that has become highly anticipated is the Brat Fest.

 

Well into it’s third decade, Brat Fest has become a can’t-miss event for tens of thousands of people from Madison and all over the Upper Midwest. This is a free event for the entire community and it's a great place to bring the entire family for a fun filled day. You’ll love the wide selection of activities throughout the weekend such as: Take Your Brat to Work, a car show, volleyball tournament and much more. There will be some great live music this year with over 150 hours of music from national and local acts. Kids will love the games, rides and overall fun atmosphere that Brat Fest provides. Don't forget it's all for a good cause as the festival helps support 125 different charities in and around the Madison area. Take your next vacation to the heartland for a brat-themed experience that you’ll never forget at Brat Fest. We got the opportunity to interview Jeff Schroeter, Representative for Brat Fest, to talk about this fun family-friendly event.

 

RAL: Tell me a little bit about the event.

JS: This is the 34th year of Brat Fest. Over the four-day stretch of our festival, we expect to see roughly 150,000 people in attendance. Our crowd is comprised of everyone and anyone. We see families, groups of friends, kids, couples, adults and teenagers. This is a free community festival presented by Johnsonville and produced by Metcalfe Markets. We have 125 charities with 3,200 volunteers. We pay their organization $8 per hour for their time. In total, we have donated over $1.6 million over the 34 years.

 

RAL: What makes this event unique?

JS: Free Live Music/Community Events and Activities/National Headliners like Travis Tritt,, Aaron Lewis and Lita Ford as well as many mid-national and large local acts, all totaling over 150 hours of great live music. We also set an example for the community in many ways. A Destination Zero Waste effort pushes sustainability, converting 53% of all waste to compost and recycling. There are 30 stations across the grounds to help this effort.

 

RAL: Take me through a day at the event.

JS: This year we have so much to offer everyone who joins us! We have events throughout the weekend including: Take Your Brat To Work Day, Volleyball Tournament, Sport Zone with Bean Bags, Frisbee Football, Disc Golf, and much more. We also have a car show, Kid Zone, Bounce Zone, Art Zone, Kids Mud Run, Hot Dog Jog, fireworks, a carnival, Brat Cake Breakfast, Worship Service, and major headliners each night and throughout the day…all for charity!

 

RAL: What will people find for food options?

JS: We will sell 160,000 brats, a truckload of corn, as many as 20,000 hot dogs and Chocolate Shoppe Ice Cream,  along with a full carnival featuring other food options. Regardless of what you like to eat, we will have something for you.

 

RAL: What is the overall environment of the festival like?

JS: We have continued to focus on our event being a zero waste, outdoor festival. We highlight this with events like Take Your Bike To Work, a Compostable K-Cup Exhibit, B Cycle stands and more. The environment is supposed to be relaxing and fun, a place where you can eat some delicious food, meet new people, and have a great time.  

 

RAL: What can an attendee expect to find for local lodging?

JS: We have lodging partnerships with Clarion Inn, Edgewater Hotel and Sleep Inn. If you're looking for additional details, please stop by our website.  

 

RAL: Is there maybe one place in particular that guests have been flocking to since the event started?

JS: Clarion is most popular. We also run shuttles between Vilas Zoo and the festival so families can experience both the free zoo and the event, removing any worry about parking.

 

RAL: What does the event mean to the community?

JS: We are currently working with 125 different charities and have raised over $1.6 million dollars in total.

 

We work with Wisconsin Tourism as well as the Madison Convention and Visitors Bureau. In applying for a grant, we figured the economic impact was over $6 million to Madison.

 

RAL: Why should people come to your event?

JS: Our festival is the perfect summer kick off for the Madison area. Where else can you meet new friendly people, enjoy a spread of fun activities, and eat all the brats you can handle? Everyone regardless of age and background is welcome to join us and enjoy this great event along with the spectacular late May weather in the Upper Midwest.

 

For more information about Brat Fest, please visit their website.