A traveling beer garden Sprecher Brewery operates will make its first appearances at the Caledonia-Mount Pleasant Park in June.
The Sprecher Brewery ambulance tapper will be at Music and a Movie in the Park from 6 to 11 pa.m. June 10, and at Kraut Fest June 16 through June 18. While Sprecher’s may have been at other venues in Racine County, it’s the first time they will be at the Caledonia-Mount Pleasant Park, said Jim Svoboda, the parks and recreation liaison.
Music and a Movie in the Park will feature a movie, and music by Squad 51. The event is free to get in, but food vendors, and Sprecher beer and soda will be sold.
“We haven’t chosen a movie yet, so we are taking suggestions,” Svoboda said. “We’ll probably put up a poll soon.”
Sprecher beer and soda will also be sold at Kraut Fest the following weekend. The theme for the three-day event will be “bringing it back old school.”
The festival started 54 years ago and ended 14 years ago because of lack of funding, but it returned to the Caledonia-Mount Pleasant Park in 2015. The event will feature a covered music tent, a carnival midway, food tents that will feature sauerkraut, local vendors, fireworks, a kraut queen contest, and kraut eating contest.
“We’ll have the original carnival from the early days because that family is still in the area,” Svoboda said. “We’re also not going to charge by head, we’re going to charge by car the load. So there won’t be anymore paying for parking and to get in.”
But this year organizers have opted for a “grandiose tent” versus a “grandiose stage.”
“We’re thinking that people will be more apt to come out if it rains,” he said. “We’re also going to be featuring more local cover bands. We think is a better route for what Kraut Fest is about… it’s more about family.”
Raffle tickets for cash prizes to help fund the fireworks will kick off March 1. They are also looking for volunteers and sponsors for both events. If you are interested, contact Svoboda at jsvoboda@mtpleasantwi.gov.
