money Bucyrus Bratwurst Festival: Old friends, new memories
Bucyrus Bratwurst Festival organizers had hoped the rain would hold off until after Saturday's parade.
"We should be able to get through the parade fine and then after the parade, it looks like we're in for some rain for the rest of the evening," Kevin Myers, the festival's director, said Saturday morning.
But storms rolled in that afternoon, forcing cancelation of the parade due to lightning and high winds.
Up until then, Brattie & Co. were on a roll. On Thursday and Friday, the festival enjoyed sunny skies and warm temperatures.
"I think the attendance has been right where we expected it to be," Myers said Saturday morning.
Even Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine visited the festival around lunchtime Saturday, taking time to greet residents and enjoy a Carle's bratwurst from the Bucyrus Band Parents' food stand.
On Thursday evening, Wynford graduate Hannah Feldman was crowned the 2022 festival's queen.
For Myers and his team of volunteers, the Bratwurst Festival is the result of a full year of planning.
"It's just like it is every year: The anticipation of the day getting here," he said. "When it finally gets here, just seeing everything open. My highlight was just looking down the street and seeing it full of people, seeing the smoke coming off of the grills."
By Saturday morning, the festival committee already was thinking about next year.
"We've been discussing our theme and our grand marshals for next year," Myers said. "We've been constantly making notes of things we need to improve, little things here and there. A lot of them revolve around safety and security — the barricading of streets and things like that."
He thanked all of the people who attended this year's event.
"We appreciate the patronage of our local people as well as the people that come from areas far away," Myers said. "We thank them for all of their patience with us and look forward to seeing them again next year."
ggoble@gannett.com
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This article originally appeared on Bucyrus Telegraph-Forum: After DeWine visit, rain forces cancelation of Bratwurst Fest parade
