Bratmeister bobbleheads, live music and more — what to know about 2024 Brat Days

SHEBOYGAN — Brat Days will return to Kiwanis Park this summer after a year hiatus.

The free event, Aug. 2-3, will be more family fun oriented, with the family and carnival areas expanding from past years.

Brat Days was canceled last year because the Sheboygan Jaycees were “working to revamp” it. Brat Days Chairwoman Jackie Quasius previously told the Sheboygan Press the event had been costly for its $200,000 budget in the past decade because of the pandemic, poor weather and rising prices.

“I fully wanted to have the event come back,” Quasius said. “We would have had it last year, if we could have. We needed a little extra time to figure out a way to make some changes and just make it a little more profitable, and so we could give back a little bit more to the community.”

Brat Days is one of the Jaycees' largest fundraising events. The organization has donated more than $300,000 to local organizations.

"There will always be something for people to do," Quasius said about 2024 Brat Days. "Hopefully, it'll be a little different for people than what they've seen in the past."

Here’s what’s returning to the park grounds, what’s not and what’s new.

Brat-eating contest, live music and Charity Challenge will return

The Sheboygan Jaycees Marketplace, live music, the brat-eating and cornhole contests, and the Charity Challenge will return.

Music acts on Friday include Bare Bones Blind, Pat McCurdy and Too Hype Crew. Saturday will bring The Dirty Martinis, Bootjack Road, Off Kilter and Two For The Show will take the Johnsonville main stage.

Up to 20 contestants can participate in the brat-eating contest. They have 10 minutes to eat as many brats as they can, which will not have a bun or condiments. Second- and third-place finishers will receive $150 and $50, respectively. The Brat Eating Champion will be awarded $300, a trophy, a year supply of Johnsonville products and a $500 donation to the Charity Challenge. Entry fee is $15.

The cornhole competition will start with a four-round Round Robin, which will split into competitive and social games.

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Johnsonville will sponsor Brat Days in a smaller capacity

Event title sponsor since 2004, Johnsonville still support the event in a different way. Quasius said the company is giving less monetary support but will provide in-kind donations, like brat-eating competition sausages and shirts.

Brat Days Parade may or may not return this year

It's uncertain if the Brat Days Parade will return at this point. Quasius said the Jaycees are still looking for sponsorship.

No. 1 Bratmeister bobblehead will be auctioned off, Jaycees celebrate 100 years

Mayor Ryan Sorenson will give a proclamation for the Sheboygan Jaycees’ centennial anniversary at Brat Days.

Bobbleheads of the Bratmeister, the inflatable Brat Days mascot, will be for sale, too. A Bratmeister bobblehead with No. 1 on it will be auctioned off. There will be a karaoke contest and axe throwing. Kids can participate with inflatable axes, too.

Brat Days will have reduced hours on the first weekend of August

Brat Days will be held at Kiwanis Park, 726 Kiwanis Park Road. It will go from 5 to 11 p.m. Aug. 2 and 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Aug. 3.

Have a story tip?Contact Alex Garner at 224-374-2332 or agarner@gannett.com. Follow her on X (formerly Twitter) at @alexx_garner.

This article originally appeared on Sheboygan Press: Brat Days returns in Sheboygan in 2024 after hiatus