SISTER BAY, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) — Sister Bay’s Fall Fest is underway. It’s the 76th year of the event, the largest such festival in Door County.
“This is our corner. We’ve always had this corner, where we sold brats, so the people that come every year know exactly where we are,” said LeRoy “Butch” Schramm, Sister Bay Lions Club Treasurer.
Schramm says cooking brats and hamburgers draws thousands to the downtown stand.
“It is the grand-daddy of festivals in Door County, really. It’s the largest,” he said.
“Probably have about 40,000. But that’s coming and going,” said Louise Howson, Sister Bay Advancement Association Community Coordinator.
Howson says Fall Fest begins with an arts and crafts show.
“We have 110 crafters that are there with all different kinds of hand-made merchandise for everybody. Anything you could ever imagine is there,” she said.
Howson says there will be a Ferris wheel, and local restaurants are expected to showcase their food and beverages inside and out.
“Why do we do this? We do this because we celebrate the fall season and the end of another great season,” she said.
The event is also a major fundraiser for many non-profit groups like the Sister Bay Lions Club.
“We’ll be here three days, and we’ll probably make somewhere around $25,000 net. It all goes back into the community,” said Schramm.
Schramm says some of the money goes toward scholarships, food pantries and other civic programs.
“It’s awesome for us to do it and for the community. I love it. I love it,” he said.
Fall Fest runs through Sunday. A parade is scheduled for Saturday morning, and on Sunday, dozens of cars will compete in a gravity-powered derby right down Highway 42.
