The Elberta Sausage Festival makes its semi-annual return to that South Baldwin hamlet. Held in Elberta Town Park, just north of the town’s only stoplight on Hwy. 98, the event attracts up to 20,000 revelers, according to organizers. A 40-year tradition, the festival is a major regional event that attracts a cross-section of the community in what has become a reunion type atmosphere. It is also the main revenue source for the area’s volunteer fire department.

Festival fans can enjoy Elberta’s famous German sausage and sauerkraut, plus continuous entertainment for adults and children, and 250 arts & crafts booths. There will also be carnival rides and a full-scale Midway. Of course, there will also be a Bier Garten featuring a large selection of imported and domestic beers.

Other scrumptious foods will include German-style filled cabbage, potato salad, goulash, red beans and rice, hamburgers, hot dogs, BBQ sandwiches, ice cream, popcorn, peanuts, and homemade baked goods.
The Bellview Stumpfiddle Band will perform with the North End Stompers and other cloggers. There will also be polka, country, and German music.

Spearheaded by Elberta’s Volunteer Fire Department since 1978, festival proceeds are used for improving not only the fire department but the town as well. Additionally, local non-profits benefit from the festival through proceeds from their booth sales and parking lot fees. The festival is held twice a year – on the last Saturday of March and the last Saturday of October. Although it has been tweaked a bit over the years, the original secret recipe for Elberta’s famous sausage is credited to Alfred Stucki, who managed Elberta’s Locker Plant from 1953 until his death in 1973. About 7,000 pounds of German Sausage are consumed at each fest.