Located just one hour north of Columbus, Bucyrus, Ohio is a small, quiet town 362 days a year. All this changes in the middle of August, when the population of the townspeople in Bucyrus issued Bratwurst. In 2001, Ohio Magazine voted the Buckeye Bratwurst Festival as the “Best Food Festival” in the state. Not only does the festival celebrate the town’s German heritage with some of the best in the world, but more than 100 other delicious foods are available, from local family-made recipes that have been handed down from generation to generation. However, bratwurst reigns supreme at the Bucyrus Bratwurst Festival, when more than 27 tons of German sausage are cooked in open fire pits during this three-day, fun-filled, family event.
Bucyrus Bratwurst Festival takes place in the streets of the town (with Sanusky Avenue being the main drag.) Bucyrus is recognized worldwide as the “Bratwurst Capital of America”. The state of Wisconsin is usually considered the authority in the rivalry of the annual celebrations in Sheboygan and Johnsonville, but in the early 1970s Bucyrus defeated Sheboygan in the “Other Brats” and won, so Bucyrus earned a much sought after title. The Bratwurst Capital of America.” Plus, the Sheboygan Festival is a much smaller event than the Buckeye Bratwurst Festival, only attracting about 8,000 visitors a year. Buckeye bratwurst is said to be different because the recipes vary from maker to maker whose families immigrated from Germany. Local butchers have been making these recipes for years. , they put their own touch on them and cook them over open fires.The Bucyrus Bratwurst Festival actually goes back to Colonel Crawford Days, when merchants held sidewalk sales and the city was also once home to many of the bravest makers who stand their pants off the curb.
The Bucyrus Bratwurst Festival traditionally begins when the reigning “Bratwurst Queen” takes the first bite of the most spicy. The Bucyrus Bratwurst Festival also offers continuous free entertainment and live music, three parades, rides and games, a legendary arts and crafts show, a beer garden, booth food – french fries, ice cream, fried salsa, cream puffs, giant pretzels, and of course, bratwurst. Their visitors eat a full Bucyrian-style bratwurst, served in a variety of ways; such as a rye sandwich roll with mustard, chopped onion or sauerkraut. A young girl is chosen Bratwurst Queen on the day of the festival and her image is struck on a silver coin. .
Other things to see while visiting the Bucyrus Bratwurst Festival include the beautiful “Great American Crossroads” mural and the “Remembering Liberty” mural in downtown Bucyrus. You can go back in time to the Cooper’s Mill and make some apple butter over a wood fire and walk around with your friends. a quaint shop with their delicious homemade jams, juices, butter and apple fudge. Carle’s Market in Bucharest offers visitors a market full of fresh produce and other imported meat, deli, meats and hot foods. You can also watch it made by hand at Carle’s. The Mr. Picking & Co. The shop is an old copper shop that looks a lot like it did when it started manufacturing in 1874. It is the last of the old Copper factory still making its original product (the apple pie) by hand. The Buckeye Bratwurst Festival is also a good stop for anyone on the way to Lake Erie. town and takes you to the shores of Lake Erie in about an hour).
For more information about the Buckeye Bratwurst Festival, call 419-562-BRAT. This is the standard for hotels in Bucuresti, and you can find places to stay in the surrounding towns of Marion, Mansfield and Upper Sandusky. For good old-fashioned family fun, nothing beats the Bucyrus Bratwurst Festival, or, as it’s known to many – “Ohio’s Eatingest Festival!”
Al Smith’s Place
(419) 562-5014
(419) 562-3609
1885 E Mansfield St
Buckeye, OH, 44820
Soldiers Inn
(419) 562-3737
1515 N Sandusky Ave
Buckeye, OH, 44820
Holiday Inn Express
(419) 562-5664
(419) 562-4224
1575 North Sandusky Ave
Buckeye, Ohio 44820
Hide Bed & Breakfast Inn
State Route 4 (two miles south of Bucyrus)
Buckeye, OH, 44820
(419) 562-3013.
(800) 570-8233
