By Lori Fredrich Senior Food Writer, Dining Editor, Podcast Host Published Aug 12, 2021 at 6:33 PM

Put your sausage eating pants on. It's officially sausage season and Johnsonville is conjuring up their biggest sausage fests feasts yet in honor of both National Bratwurst Day (Aug. 16).

Bratsgiving Day

The Big Feast happens Monday, Aug. 16 when Johnsonville rolls out a brand new sausage-worthy holiday: “Bratsgiving Day,” a day on which devoted bratwurst lovers can celebrate the deliciousness of a Wisconsin classic.

This year, Johnsonville will host a Bratsgiving Day celebration at the Brewers’ Helfaer Field on Aug. 16 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. During the event, folks can pick up a free bratwurst and then pay-it-forward by donating to the Brewers Community Foundation.  

Even better, the Johnsonville Racing Sausages will be on site and available for Instagram-worthy sausage-themed photo ops.

Celebrate early

Can't wait for Bratsgiving Day?  You can celebrate Bratsgiving Day a few days early if you head out for the Johnsonville Brat FryDay event at Festival Foods, 11111 W. Greenfield Ave. 

The event takes place on Friday, Aug. 13 (that’s tomorrow) from noon to 4 p.m. and features … free bratwurst. Lots and lots of Sheboygan-made bratwurst.  Of course, there’s a charitable component as well. Donations are encouraged to support the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation.

More ways to celebrate

Of course, there are other ways to celebrate, even from afar.  Head to Bratsgiving.com and you’ll find three alternate ways to celebrate. And each one gives you the chance to earn Bratsgiving and grilling goodies by sharing answers and ideas via Johnsonville’s Instagram and Twitter accounts through Aug. 16.

 Here are your options:

  1. Share a recipe: Share a photo or video of your favorite brat recipe, using any flavor of Johnsonville Brats. Be sure to use #HappyBratsgiving!
  2. Engage in the Great Brat Debate by sharing your preferred cooking method for brats. Are they bathed in a bath of beer before grilling? Finished in a hottub of beer? Or painstakingly slow cooked and enjoyed as-is?  Share your favorite methods  and use #HappyBratsgiving for a chance to win.
  3. Nominate a Bratsgiver. You can also be super-duper nice and nominate the ultimate Bratsgiver in your life. A Bratsgiver is a person or organization that simply brings joy to others. Nominate the Bratsgiver in your life by describing their amazing good deeds along with #HappyBratsgiving.
Lori Fredrich Senior Food Writer, Dining Editor, Podcast Host

Lori is an avid cook whose accrual of condiments and spices is rivaled only by her cookbook collection. Her passion for the culinary industry was birthed while balancing A&W root beer mugs as a teenage carhop, fed by insatiable curiosity and fueled by the people whose stories entwine with each and every dish. She’s had the privilege of chronicling these tales via numerous media, including OnMilwaukee and in her book “Milwaukee Food.” Her work has garnered journalism awards from entities including the Milwaukee Press Club. 

When she’s not eating, photographing food, writing or recording the FoodCrush podcast, you’ll find Lori seeking out adventures with her husband Paul, traveling, cooking, reading, learning, snuggling with her cats and looking for ways to make a difference.