Bratwurst Days is this weekend in Sheboygan.
The history of “Brat days” is legendary. In the 1960’s, the downtown streets of Sheboygan were closed off to accommodate the crowds. Lots of food featuring world famous bratwurst. And booze! There was a beer stand every 20 feet. By the end of Saturday festivities, the streets were littered with discarded paper, beer cups and people. Yep, people sleeping in the streets.
People came from all over. Buses from Illinois, Minnesota, Iowa and Michigan were common. Eventually, the whole celebration got so “out of hand” by becoming a drunken brawl, the event “Bratwurst Days” was cancelled.
When Brat Days was reinstated, it was designed to be confined to Kewanas Park.
Here is the family connection. There was always a “brat eating contest” each year. Two scrumptuous, greasy, heavily season brats were placed on a bun and the contest was to see who could eat the most “doubles”. The company where I was employed had a maintenance man (Roger T.) who won the contest every year. Typically Roger ate 16 doubles in a defined time (30 mins ?). He won several years in a row. He was the unquestioned champ. He died at age 47 of a heart attack. Really!
My mother’s brother, Big Jerry, was visiting after retiring from the military. Jerry had a big appetite and figured he could beat Roger T. So Jerry entered the brat eating contest. Jerry gave it his best effort by eating 12 double brats. I remember he got sick after and “heaved” his sausages. Alas, Roger T. won again. Or did he. Dying at 47 is not exactly a great reward.
The tradition of Brat days lives on. You can eat until you are stuffed.
Love,
Dad