By Kimberly Gasuras
CCN Reporter
BUCYRUS―From the smell of bratwurst cooking to a little monkey to spending time with family and friends, local residents are sharing their favorite memories of the Bratwurst Festival along with things about the festival that they look forward to each year.
Bucyrus resident, Vikki Kennedy, lived away from Bucyrus for several years.
“And I missed the festival. Most places don’t have anything like our festival,” said Kennedy.
Kennedy lists seeing old friends who she had lost touch with, the local bands and the food offered at the festival as her favorites.
Cheryl Dunford also loves seeing old friends at the festival.
“Since I was born in Bucyrus and still live here, my favorite part of the Bratwurst Festival has always been running into old friends that I only get to see when they come home for the festival. Life gets crazy busy sometimes and you lose touch with people, but the festival always brings us back together,” said Dunford.
For Tioni Adkins, the festival is a great time to spend with her children.
“Watching my kids get pumped up to ride rides and play games and seeing their faces light up while having a blast,” said Adkins.
Sarah Heckert is also focused on making memories with her child during the festival.
“My favorite thing about the festival is seeing the smiles and laughter come out of my one-year-old son’s mouth when he is watching the parade,” said Heckert.
For Colonel Crawford High School student Kayla Humphrey, the festival offers an opportunity for some last minute fun before beginning a new school year.
“I love the bourbon chicken and hanging out with my best friend, Anastacia. It’s one last chance to be with my best friend without stressing about school,” said Humphrey.
Rebecca Webber also loves the bourbon chicken.
“It’s the only reason I go to the festival. I was there just before noon on Thursday, second in line and before I left with my order, there was already a line,” said Webber.
Sue Adams’s favorite is the beef and noodles at the American Legion.
“I also enjoy supporting our Veterans,” said Adams.
Bobby Davis, a local musician and songwriter with the band Perfectly Damaged, said his favorite memory of the festival happened when he was eight-years-old.
“I won my first Gene Simmons poster on a balloon dart game. That was a proud possession in 1978,” said Davis.
Jeff Massie, co-owner of the Horseshoe Bar, said he has one festival memory that stands out for him.
“I love seeing old friends that come back home for the weekend. On a more personal note, years ago, I remember a young mother and daughter coming in the “Shoe” on a Saturday afternoon upset she couldn’t win a live rabbit for her kid. The girl was so upset that I tossed a few darts and got her one. She was ecstatic. I felt great that night. Good times,” said Massie.
April Payne always loved watching the parades with her mom and is passing that tradition on to her children.
“My favorite memory has always been watching the parades with my mom and cheering for the Bucyrus High School Marching Band. This was the first year without my mom, so my son and I cheered the band on,” said Payne.
Here are some more memories and favorites from Crawford County residents and former residents:
Penny Charleston: “Years ago, when I was little, there used to be a large semi-trailer that sat down but were Baker’s Pizza is now that had a what I called a music box in it. It had statues that moved and played music. The older man that ran it was great. He didn’t have any teeth and he would make me laugh by putting his bottom lip up over his nose. I would sit there for hours listening to the music and watching the older gentleman dance and make kids laugh.”
Mary Wendelken: “Being runner-up in the Junior Princess pageant in 1971 and having no idea what it was about. Dad didn’t know you were supposed to ride in on a sports car so I was perched on the top of our banana yellow Galaxy 500 with a homemade sign that bore my name in blue electrical tape. I love my dad!”
Laurie Mahley: “Favorite memories are watching the Organ Grinder and his Monkey that always walked around when I was a kid and watching a group called Sky play on the square. I just remember being fascinated by both.”
Kelly Postell Campbell: “As a kid, I remember the door being opened to what now is the Horseshoe, I can’t remember what it was called at the time. They had go-go girls with high boots dancing on the bar. I was innocently eating my cotton candy while my Mom tried to block my view as we walked by. This was followed up with Mom pulling out the wet washcloth that she had in a baggie from her purse to wash the cotton candy off our faces.”
Heather Kelly: “My favorite memory was when my mom was on the (festival) board and I would climb on the stage and stuff. I was just a youngin then. Also, the Saturday parade with all the queens.”
Jeanette Parker: “I was “band mom” for Colonel Crawford High School for years, running the stand for all the time it was open, for three days. The very first year, my two daughters had to take my shoes and jeans off when we got home after the first day. My feet were so swollen! I remember so many people who helped and those who promised and never showed up. One year, only one young band member and l ran the stand for four hours. Thank goodness, the people who came to our stand were understanding and so kind. As for the young man who ran the grill? He moved overseas soon after that episode!”
Melissa Schluter: “I love the things like the fact that Schmidt’s has been a part of the Brat Fest for more than 25 years now and I see that John Schmidt has developed friendships with many of us in town that have either worked in the booth for Bay Soccer or just seen him year after year. He is good people.”
Fran Zimmerman: “Our parties, catching up with old friends, beer gardens and sneaking on the giant slide on the way home.”
Greg Leonhardt: “I remember sneaking up the giant slide after hours and having to hideout up top for a few minutes when a cop went by.”
Gail Griffith: “I loved it when our Columbus family came up, watching my grandmother Griffith and great aunt and uncle dancing the polka. They embraced their German heritage and it was a really big deal to come to visit and polka at the festival. Great childhood memories.”
Becky Bonnette: “My favorite memories of the Bratwurst Festival are of my dad steaming corn with his steam engine at the VFW. Everyone loved the delicious corn & he just loved doing that for everyone.”
Andrew Schell: “I miss the steam engine corn at the VFW. I miss hearing the steam whistle every hour. Never be the same without it.”
Chris Dowler: “My favorite time was when my dad was entertainment chair for the Bratwurst Festival and they brought in the Clydesdales and the Bud man.”
Teresa Spears Hensley: “I loved walking thru the town…smelling the smells of bratwurst …the Kiwanis chicken bbq…the sounds of the kids screaming with joy on the rides. I loved to watch the parade on Saturday, the mother parade of the parades. I remember the band called the Top Hats who would come to march, awesome band. And all the Shriners and their little cars …it’s just not the same anymore.”
Stephanee Borer: “My favorite thing is watching the queen’s pageant, but my best memory was growing up a policeman’s daughter and getting to ride in the police car with my dad and wave to all the amazing people.”
Adrienne Lohr: “I think I took the festival for granted when I was younger, but since I moved away for school six years ago, I’ve tried to make it back to town for brat fest almost every year. It’s been the perfect opportunity to reconnect with the town I grew up in and catch up with people that I haven’t seen in a while.”
Ginny McAdow Beveridge: “The smell, came through town today, rolled down the windows and the smell of the charcoal and Bratwurst smoke in the air just made all the memories front and center! See ya Saturday, festival, going to make some new memories!”