BUCYURS, OH (CRAWFORD COUNTY NOW)—Here in Bucyrus, we’ve officially hit the stage of winter when Central Ohioans begin to lose hope that summer will ever return. Unless you’re Doug Foght, director of the Bucyrus Bratwurst Festival. While not immune from the cold, he keeps the warm summer vibes alive all year long by actively planning and sharing his vision for the 2025 event, which he said will continue to build on recent successes while paying homage to the festival’s roots.
Foght credits his extensive history with the Bratwurst Festival to his grandfather, Boyd Long, who ran the event for 47 years.
“My grandfather was a very big community man and he cared a lot about Bucyrus,” said Foght. “That’s why I’m involved in the festival and why I do everything I do.”
After Long died in 2017, former Bratwurst Festival Director Kevin Myers approached Foght to see if he would be interested in carrying on his grandfather’s legacy on the board.
“They were excited that I wanted to do that,” he said about the board’s reaction to his willingness to join.
After a few years as a board member, he was elected vice president. In 2024, when the director role opened, he jumped at the opportunity.
“Larry didn’t want to be the director anymore,” said Foght. “He wants to help out and be as much of a part of this as he can and we’re so thankful and blessed for that because he has so much knowledge that he’s gained over the years.”
“It’s a lot easier, in my mind, for [the board] to fill the role of a vice president than it is to fill that director position,” he continued. “You can’t really bring somebody in who has no experience with our festival.”
“I definitely like to take the lead on things and I like to make an impact on the community,” he continued. “Hopefully, I’ll do as good of a job as everybody thinks I will.”
There’s No ‘I’ In Team
If the 2025 Bucyrus Bratwurst Festival is a success, Foght said it won’t be because of him.
“The only reason that I will look good is because of the other people who are involved,” he said. “At the end of the day, I’m just the guy you can point the finger at and say ‘he’s the one who ran the show.’ But ultimately it’s because of everybody involved, all of our committee people down to every volunteer. I’m only as good as everybody that I have helping me. It takes a village to make it happen.”
Speaking of volunteers, Foght said the committee is always on the lookout for more help.
“We definitely need our sponsors,” he said. “But volunteers are vital to making this a successful festival. So, even if you only have a couple of hours to give, we can find something for you to do.”
Foght said the committee will begin asking for volunteers to sign up soon and that the opportunities will be advertised on Facebook. But those who don’t want to wait are always welcome to reach out to anybody on the committee, who will make sure your name gets passed along to the right person.
For the Foght family, volunteering at the Bucyrus Bratwurst Festival is a way of life. While his daughters are grown with full-time jobs of their own, they still find time to volunteer whenever they can. However, Ida, his wife, is always pitching in.
“God bless my wife because I drag her more than any wife would like to be dragged by her husband into community volunteering and community events,” he said. “But she’s always right there to help and support me and the community in any way that she can.”
Foght also said his grandsons are starting to get to the age where they’re going to be helping out as well.
“This festival is fun for so many generations,” he said.
Looking Forward Requires Looking Back
Over the years, the Bucyrus Bratwurst Festival has evolved to meet the changing interests of its citizens. While there has been a lot of great progress, entertainment, and memories made over the years, Foght says it’s important to honor the past and to understand the origins of the festival’s traditions to develop a plan that will help encourage further growth and success.
“I’ve been lucky enough to become close with Fred Fisher, the first director of our festival back when it was Colonel Crawford Days and it was first founded. So, what I’m trying to do is to talk with him to find out about the things that they were doing back then,” he explained. “I want to find out how I can incorporate some of those old ways into our new ways of doing things. … it’s really just gonna be a culmination of trying to put all that together to represent the festival from its beginning through to its future.”
The festival is rooted in the concept of togetherness – for the community, by the community – which is the direction Foght said he is working toward.
“I just want to get everybody involved,” he said. “This is the time of year when most anybody that has ever lived here or has family here will come back and visit and you get to see all the people you haven’t seen in a long time.”
Foght said the committee is also working to enhance entertainment and to upgrade safety.
“We’ve already purchased more concrete blocks for barriers and we’re actually going to be purchasing more in the future to get them into some other areas where we would like to see them, just to make sure there are no ways for a car to get into our downtown area,” he said. “We don’t like to talk about the bad stuff but, unfortunately, we’ve seen the tragedies that have happened at other fairs, festivals, and events. Ultimately, we want to make sure that these things do not happen at the Bucyrus Bratwurst Festival.”
“We have been very fortunate when it comes to parades. Our police department does an amazing job of helping us get people lined up safely and getting them through the parade route,” he continued. “We are very thankful because they allow us to be able to do what we need to do without having to worry.”
It’s Not Too Early To Start Dreaming Of Summer
If you’ve never been to the Bucyrus Bratwurst Festival before, or even if you have, Foght has some tips that will help you get the most out of your day.
“I suggest that you make your way to one of our local academic booster stands and get a Carle’s bratwurst. That would be my first suggestion. Get yourself a traditional bratwurst if you can and just take a walk down through the town,” he said. “Make sure that you stop and chat with some of the local merchants. You will enjoy hearing some of their stories. Then, if you have the time later in the evening, catch some of our entertainment. We’re planning on a great entertainment lineup this year. Make sure you enjoy the show and get up and dance if you’d like. And bring the kids. It’s a very kid-friendly, family-friendly environment.”
More information about the 2025 Bucyrus Bratwurst Festival will be shared as the event gets closer (and the ground begins to thaw). But, in the meantime, consider becoming a volunteer for this year’s event and reach out to Foght or another member of the festival committee to make them aware of your interest.
Photo Galery: Bucyrus Bratwurst Festival
