World's Largest Brat Fest

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Sam Ness

The brats are back at Willow Island for the first time in two years. This fundraiser has long ushered in the summer festival season, with grilled brats, celebrity cashiers (including Isthmus editor Judith Davidoff, working 3-5 p.m. on Saturday), and three days of bands. The menu has expanded — along with classic brats, chicken brats, Beyond Meat plant-based brats and hot dogs (all $4), you can also get an ear of roasted corn ($3). Fireworks light up the sky Saturday night. The bands tend toward rock and country, with a lineup ranging from local favorites like singer-songwriter Sam Ness (11 a.m., May 28) to Los Angeles glam metal vets BulletBoys (4 p.m., May 28) to contemporary Christian hitmaker Ryan Stevenson (7 p.m., May 29); peep the full list below.

press release: Grills will be sizzling and music will be playing as the World’s Largest Brat Fest is back on Willow Island at the Alliant Energy center during the upcoming Memorial Day Weekend. Brat Fest will be a fun and safe festival with increased handwashing stations and hand sanitizer available. In addition, the Sparkle Squad volunteers will be cleaning all public areas frequently.  

There are always new things at Brat Fest!  This year will introduce a Corn Hole Tournament, the Farm Zone (where you’ll also find our Petting Zoo!) and a brand-new, plant-based bratwurst from Beyond Meat.  

Over 70 local and Midwestern entertainers will be performing with headliners 38 Special playing Friday Night, Joe Nichols on Saturday night and Bobaflex Reunion, Queensryche and Ryan Stevenson on Sunday night. The VIP Fan Experience also returns, including special viewing access, food and beverages and Brat Fest t-shirt and VIP Parking. Autographs and band Meet & Greets may also be available, subject to band approval. VIP Fan Experience packages can be purchased at www.BratFest.com.  

Take Your Brat to Work Day kicks things off on Friday at Willow Island from 6am-9am and delivery from Eat Street will be available from 9am-12pm. And the fun continues all weekend long with one of Wisconsin’s largest grass volleyball tournaments, the Hot Dog Jog, Kids Zone, Sports Zone, Car Show, a visit from the Budweiser Clydesdales and Carnival. The weekend wraps up on Sunday night with one of the best free fireworks displays in the state.  

Visit www.BratFest.com for more details! Additional information will be added as we continue to get closer to the 40th Anniversary of Brat Fest.  

Music schedule (as of May 19:

Friday: Island Stage: David Mazzie 11 am, Dem Horny Funkers noon, Amped 11 1 pm, Racing Pulses 2 pm, Jenny Lupien 3 pm, Your Mom 4 pm, Mad City Funk 5 pm, John Masino Band 6 pm, Mighty Electric 7 pm; Grand Stage: Bree Morgan 1 pm, Marques Morel 2 pm, Autumn Reverie 3 pm, Rip 4 pm, Elizabeth Mary 5 pm, Michael Alexander & Big Whiskey 6 pm, Derek Jones 7 pm, 38 Special 8 pm; Main Stage: Silvertung 11 am, RJ Halsted noon, Seven Seasons Deep 1 pm, Lou Shields 2 pm, Adam Bartels Band 3 pm, RailHopper 4 pm, Mickey Magnum 5 pm, Kings of Radio 6 pm, Last Crack 7 pm.

Saturday: Island Stage: Sam Ness 11 am, Bad Graffiti noon, Old Soul Society 1 pm, Mason Meyer & the Stolen Thunder Band 2 pm, Left of Reason 3 pm, Morningstar 4 pm, Michael Brooks & the Mighty Joe White 5 pm, Breech 6 pm, Foo Foo Dolls 7 pm; Grand Stage: Mars Hall 1 pm, Bucky Covington 2 pm, Lonely Ones 3 pm, BulletBoys 4 pm, Hounds 5 pm, Frank Martin Busch & the Names 6 pm, Royal Bliss 7 pm, Joe Nichols 8 pm; Main Stage: TJ Stone 11 am, Chris Kroeze noon, The Adarna 1 pm, Shawn Schell 2 pm, The Black Moods, Austin Stirling 4 pm, Kirstie Kraus 5 pm, Power Take Off 6 pm, Madison County 7 pm.

Sunday: Island Stage: Dale Glaudell 11 am, Abby Spencer noon, Go Play God 1 pm, Dakota Tanninga 2 pm, The Brotherhood 3 pm, VS 4 pm, Afternoon Hangover 5 pm, Pilot 6 pm, Tim Daniels Band 7 pm; Main Stage: Heartland Church Band 9 am, Kelly Roose noon, Shelley Faith 1 pm, Rip 2 pm, Coby James 3 pm, Remedy Drive 4 pm, Aaron Scott 5 pm, Mark Schultz 6 pm, Ryan Stevenson 7 pm. Grand Stage: Katie Scullin 1 pm, Sunspot 2 pm, Shallow Side 3 pm, Mke 4:05 pm, B. Stille 4:20 pm, Rick Monroe 5 pm, Saving Abel 6 pm, Bobaflex 7 pm, Queensryche 8 pm.

While Brat Fest could not take place in 2020 and 2021, we found different ways to still support the Brat Fest Charities over the last two years. In 2020, Brat Fest held a Virtual Brat Fest, allowing folks to make a monetary donation when purchasing virtual brats. Later in 2020, an online silent auction was held. In total, over $100,000 was raised for the Brat Fest charities.

In 2021, the one-time only, Build Your Own Brat Fest took place. Over 180 bars and restaurants across Dane County participated, serving Brat Fest brats over Memorial Day Weekend. We were thrilled to be able to help bring back live music at many of the participating venues. Over $50,000 was raised for the Brat Fest charities during Build Your Own Brat Fest.  

Non-profits interested in being a Brat Fest Charity? 

Visit BratFest.com to learn how you can apply to be a Brat Fest charity! 

About the World's Largest Brat Fest: Brat Fest has been held every Memorial Day weekend since 1983 as a fundraiser for local charities and has grown to support over 100 non-profits today.  Tom and Margaret Metcalfe held the very first Brat Fest in front of their Madison, WI family-owned grocery store, Metcalfe's Market, with a 22” Weber Grill, a table and three chairs. It was a way for them to say "thank you" to their customers. In 2001, Johnsonville came on-board as the ‘Official Brat” for the Festival. In 2005, Brat Fest outgrew Metcalfe's parking lot and moved to Willow Island at the Alliant Energy Center. Over 35 years after its small parking lot start, the still-family-friendly Brat Fest features 100 free musical acts, free parking, free admission, fireworks, a carnival and of course, brats - with more than $2.3 million donated to local charities since 1983.  For a complete list of Brat Fest programming, events, and highlights, visit bratfest.com and follow on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Snapchat (@bratfest/@bratfestoffical).

Produced by Metcalfe's Market 

Metcalfe's Market is a fourth-generation, family-owned market with two locations in Madison (Hilldale and West Towne), and one in the Village in Wauwatosa. Proudly operating since 1917, Metcalfe's has been committed to sustainability for over 100 years. From creating a local food miles program featuring over 3,500 local foods to 100 percent green power and composting, Metcalfe's Market is committed to a more sustainable place where we all work, live and play. For more information on Metcalfe's Market, visit www.shopmetcalfes.com or follow-on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter (@MetcalfesMarket). 

Presented by Johnsonville Sausage 

Wisconsin-based Johnsonville Sausage is the No. 1 national brand of bratwurst, Italian sausage, smoked-cooked links and fresh breakfast sausage links. Johnsonville employs approximately 1,600 members. Each member takes ownership of product quality to ensure the excellence and "Big Flavor" of Johnsonville Sausage. Founded in 1945 by Ralph F. and Alice Stayer, the company remains privately owned today. www.johnsonville.com