Brat Fest Photo Trip Report

[LoneRider92]

www.bratfest.com/

 

Hey all, LoneRider here again with a food-themed thread! If you didn't see the Photo Trip Report from last year, you can give it a look here to see what it's all about. If you need a quick reminder, I can give you a rundown of what is happening; 30 years ago, a local grocery store owner decided to give back to the community by selling brats on Memorial Day to thank customers for their service. The event grew and grew until it became large enough to garner the title of World's Largest Brat Fest. Today the event has sold more than 3 million brats (That's 300.3 million tons of brats! Talk about a sausage fest...) and raised almost $1.2 million in charity with over 5000 volunteers and 100 charities participating. There are rides, lots of music, activities, and more Midwestern food than you can shake a corn on the cob at.

 

So if you are anywhere near the Madison, WI area from the 24th of May to the 27th, maybe from riding Backwards Batman or checking up on Hades 360, don't be shy and come and grab a brat and have a good time!

 

A photo trip report from this year should be coming soon.

[LoneRider92]

As promised, here is a small report of the event this year. Luckily the weather was cooperating this year as it was insanely nice and comfortable, hopefully resulting in a strong first day of brat sales this year. The goal for a new world record is around 210,000 brats, and as of 4:00 the count was around 41,000, so here's being optimistic that the weather holds out.

 

The Fest was very similar to how it's been the past few years, with the only slight difference being that the carnival was moved to the parking lot to avoid problems with soft ground from a couple days of rain. Otherwise the event is still fun and offers a unique way to spend some time relaxing on Memorial Day weekend.

 

I didn't hit the carnival tonight as it was pretty much the same one that has been present the past few years. Most of it was standard carnival fare, with the Force 10 sticking out as probably the fastest and most intense ride there (I haven't been able to give Spin Out a shot).

 

All in all, if you are in the area and have a serious craving for some Midwestern grub, making a trip to Brat Fest wouldn't be too bad of an idea. I don't expect anyone to make a serious trip for the event (a la Vacation), but if you are willing to venture on up you are more than welcome to.

 

On to pictures!

Ah, the Alliant Energy Center in May, which can only mean the World's Largest Brat Fest is here again!

The carnival in it's new location, so you are close enough to stagger out to your car once the carnival rides nearly force up all of the delicious food you just ate

The sign does not lie, this is the World's Largest Brat Fest (in case it didn't sink in the first 20 times you saw it)

Here is a sampling of the menu: up top is a standard Johnsonville brat with sauerkraut and onions, the middle sausage is the holdover from last year, a Chipotle Chicken Monterrey Jack brat with Dusseldorf mustard, and a hotdog with ketchup and onions. (don't you dare let anyone from the Mustard Museum catch you putting ketchup on a brat. Things could get messy...)

After slamming down a brat or five, a baker's dozen ears of corn, and a couple of beers, nothing hits the spot more than some good ol' Wisconsin ice cream

Here is my scoop of choice - the specially-made Brat Fest Cookie Dough. This is some gooooood ice cream. =D

I really like the message Chocolate Shoppe parlays on their cups of ice cream. No worries, I'll just eat fruit and salad for the next month or so

 

*snerk*

Here is just one of the several stages located around Brat Fest. This really is a good place to just sit back, relax, eat a brat and listen to some music

Just a few fun stats on Brat Fest for your reading pleasure

As with almost any event in Wisconsin, beer is readily available - wait. Budweiser? Not Miller??? I'm not even a beer guy, but that seems wrong...

Ooookay... Moving back to brats, the several condiment tents plopped down have a variety of fixings for your franks, including several types of mustards. Chipotle certainly does have a kick to it

The Weinermobile, always a popular character at Brat Fest

Just showing off how important advances in science, mathematics, and physics have payed off in creating sleeker, more advanced weiner-themed transportation over the years

The main tent is able to serve a metric bun-ton of people during busier hours. Many a brats have passed through here during the course of the event

Well, it may be Miller country, but this is always welcome sight for TPR members and Wisconsinites alike...

The Budweiser Clydesdales! Complete with bells and smells and everything (good thing I had finished my brat. Hoooo man)

Dalmation dude here had better hope they don't run short on hot dogs yet

Uh oh, CLYDE! DO NOT EAT THAT LADY! SHE IS NOT A GIANT APPLE!!

Aw Clyde, you're not supposed to look at the camera! Just act natural

Just a quick peek at the menu to give you an idea of all the amazing ice cream flavo- hold up. Carrot mango? Hmm, not exactly my go-to flavor...

And don't worry, if your legs are unable to support the extra food weight, the Weiner Wagons (driven by volunteers as well) are here to help. =D

If you see this sign, you're in the right place! If not you may want to check your GPS

Happy happy happy happy sausage

Well, this IS a theme park website, so some ride pictures are pretty much mandatory. Here is the ferris wheel (the one last year that was set up too close to a tree and birch slapping people)

CREDIT! Well, maybe for some really desperate and especially pathetic whores out there - you know who you are!

Here is the ferris wheel (wait, didn't I say that already? Oh, wait. A second ferris wheel [???]. Got it)

Spin Out in action. I have seen this ride at several different carnivals over time, but I have yet to experience it. Anyone care to offer an opinion?

The Zipper and Kamikaze/Skymaster, a couple of standard carnival contraptions. I do like Zippers, but it sucks that they require two riders (being the LoneRider and all). They are pretty exciting and make some of the most fascinating/unnerving clanking and banging noises.

And to wrap up the report, a couple shots of the top of the carnival ride food chain (at least this carnival), Force 10. It looks like a pretty simple ride, but wow is this a doozy of a ride. It was definitely fun last year when I rode it and it is a step above most other carnival rides, but sustaining 3 g's for a couple of minutes leaves you feeling very strange. Just be prepared when you strap in to this bad boy

For a final shot, I give you a couple of riders whose blood supply has pretty much been forced down into their legs. At least their stomachs are now rather empty since just about everything is south of the pelvis, so they should be feeling good enough to get some more brats. =D

 

Thank you all for reading! I hope you enjoyed the food and the rides and are now craving some awesome Sconnie food. Don't be shy and come on down to Mad Town. We'll treat you well!

 

Look for another trip report or two over the summer. Hades 360, Noah's Ark, Pennsyvania Trip, or maybe something else, who knows. LoneRider signing out!

[gisco]

How did Joey miss this food thread?