BUCYRUS — The Bratwurst Festival is back for 2021 and looking to be bigger and better than ever.
After the Boyd Long Opening Ceremony kicks things off at 11 a.m. on Thursday at the Wyandot Mutual Insurance Stage, there is a day full of pageantry. The Junior Princess Pageant is at 3 p.m., the Princess Pageant is at 5 p.m. and the Queen’s Pageant is at 8 p.m.
Ohio Mutual Insurance Group is once again sponsoring the Ohio Mutual Family Fun Zone, located in the parking lot of Dollar General. New this year is Dino Roar!, offering highly engaging, exciting, and educational dinosaur entertainment daily at 1 p.m., 3 p.m. and 6 p.m. Also available all three days from 12-6 is Dino Dig where children can dig for fossils.
Other activities in this Ohio Mutual Family Fun Zone include the Buckeye State Sanctioned Pedal Tractor Pull Thursday at 8 p.m., the Crawford Antique Machinery Pedal Tractor Pull Friday at 4 p.m., as well as water balloon tosses, the Mini Moto, and the Hoop Shoot.
There will also be a 5K Color Run/Walk starting at 9 a.m. on Saturday, Aug. 21 at Bucyrus High School. There is a $25 entry fee if registered by Aug. 1, and $35 if registered after Aug. 1. Participants will have the option to participate in the Color Run stations or avoid them. Medals will be presented to the first three finishers in each age group. To register, visit www.bucyrusbratwurstfestival.com/events/5k-color-run-walk/
Contests this year include The Bratwurst Eating Contest on Thursday, Cream Puff Eating, Watermelon Eating, and Pizza Eating on Friday, and Ice Cream Eating on Saturday. Friday Night is the Mustache and Beard Contest, followed by the Men’s Legs Contest. Saturday brings the Pretty Baby Contest and Pigtail Contest, as well as the ever-popular Bratwurst Festival Stein Auction where steins from the 2021 festival, as well as the cancelled 2020 festival will be auctioned off, benefiting the Royalty Travel program.
As always, there are daily parades. Thursday’s parade at 7 p.m., sponsored by People’s Savings and Loan Company, will feature all the candidates for the Junior Princess, Princess, and Queen pageants, as well as outgoing 2019 Bratwurst Festival Queen Sara Beck and her court, who never got the chance to wave goodbye in 2020. Friday’s parade at 7 p.m. is sponsored by Knecht’s Auto Recycling. Saturday’s parade at 4 p.m. will feature visiting royalty from around Ohio and is sponsored by Avita Health System.
Adam Calvert and his band are ready to entertain Bucyrus on Friday night on the FC Bank Stage with high-energy country rock. Adam started his career at an early age and was a youth performer at The Country Tonite Theater in Pigeon Forge when he was 12. He then went on to be a host and singer at Jukebox in Chattanooga at the age of 15. He later moved to Cincinnati where he graduated from the School of Creative Performing Arts as a piano and vocal major. He was also a singer songwriter on the MTV show “Taking the Stage.” At that time, he also was the New Face of Rue 21 Carbon Elements Cologne and featured in Speedway and Safe Auto Commercials.
Saturday, local favorites The Cellar Dwellers will open the evening on the FC Bank Stage for headliner Stadium 11. Stadium 11 is the premier classic rock act that pays tribute to the greatest songs and performances from the greatest groups in rock music history, including Journey, Styx, Boston, Queen, Foreigner, REO Speedwagon, Elton John and more.
Other musical acts will include festival newcomers Wayne Golob & Anthony Culkar, as well as longtime favorites Ken & Mary, and local favorites Mike & Larry. All three acts will be wandering the festival grounds all three days between noon and 6 p.m. playing authentic German music on their accordions. 60 Days to Play, lead by local front man Preston Wurm will be playing at the Schines Art Park Stage Thursday at 3 p.m. followed by acoustic music by Bailey Neidermeirer at 6 p.m.
Friday’s music starts with the Bucyrus Nazarene Church Praise Team at noon on the Wyandot Mutual Insurance Stage. Valhalla will be playing on the Schines Art Park Stage at 1 p.m. followed by acoustic music with Bailey Neidermeier at 6 p.m. and acoustic music by Howard Cole on the Wyandot Mutual Insurance Stage at 8 p.m.
On Saturday, the New Washington Band will play at noon on the Wyandot Mutual Insurance Stage, followed by acoustic music by Ella Hoover at 2 p.m. and Bailey Neidermeier once again at 3 p.m. United in Harmony will grace the Wyandot Mutual Insurance Stage at 7 p.m. while Through the Wall, a collective of local youth musicians lead by Mark Fiske will play the Schines Art Park Stage at 7 p.m.
For more information, follow the Bratwurst Festival Facebook page at www.facebook.com/BratwurstFestival and the Bratwurst Festival website at www.bucyrusbratwurstfestival.com. For those interested in volunteering to help with the festival, the signup link can be found at www.signupgenius.com/go/5080944abaf2da5f58-2021
