by Friday, August 11th – Sunday, August 13th is a great time to Visit Sheboygan, because two awesome events dominate the weekend
Sheboygan – already known as both the Bratwurst Capital of the World and the Freshwater Surfing Capital of the World – adds to its legend August 11-13 by welcoming two major events – both new – to the city in a single weekend.
Boat Racing on Lake Michigan with the Mercury Racing Midwest Challenge
The Mercury Racing Midwest Challenge is a comprehensive festival as well as a celebration that features the top categories of U.S. powerboat racing. More than 40 teams from around the world compete on two major courses, including a 1-mile F1 Course and a 6-mile Offshore Course. International marine motorsport promoter Powerboat P1, the Formula One Racing Series, and Mercury Marine, the legendary Fond du Lac-based manufacturer of high-performance marine propulsion, selected Sheboygan as the host city for this inaugural powerboat race. And it’s no wonder! With the harbor, the expansive viewing areas along North and South Beach, and the ample facilities for food, drink, and lodging both downtown and through Sheboygan County, Sheboygan was a great selection for this remarkable race. From the Kickoff Party at City Green – with powerboats themselves right there in front of you! – to the finals in various categories on Sunday, check out this list of events:
Bring your appetite – because that weekend is also the inaugural Wisconsin Pasty Fest!
We’ve been big fans of the Sheboygan Pasty Company since they opened in the back of Ranieri’s Four of a Kind Bar & Grill in 2021. They’ve brought the UP style of pasties to the city – and now to increasing numbers of grocery stores around eastern Wisconsin – and now they’re highlighting this tasty treat with the first-ever Wisconsin Pasty Fest August 11th-13th!
Wisconsin Pasty Fest coincides with Ranieri’s Four of a Kind celebrating its own 10th anniversary. The anniversary party is Saturday, August 12th but the celebration – and the pasty focus – runs Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. Events include:
- Friday, August 11th from 4pm-8pm: Sheboygan’s Largest Fish Fry. A full and tasty fish fry of hand-breaded Lake Perch or Cod, fries, coleslaw, house-made tartar… the works! Plus live Polka music from the Ryan Kautzer Band.
- Saturday, August 12th from 11am-9pm: Wisconsin Pasty Fest featuring fresh, hot pasties along with burgers and brats from Brockman’s Market. You can also enter your own home-baked pasty in the Pasty Baking Contest.
- Saturday, August 12th from 11ma-9pm: Ranieri’s Four of a Kind 10th Anniversary Party with Ryan Kautzer performing in the afternoon and the Chris Schmidt Experience from 6pm-9pm!
- Sunday, August 13th from 9am-2pm: Bloody Mary Bar & Beer Garden. Let the Bloody Mary bar pair with a tasty pasty, brat, burger, or fish sandwich to help you recover from the previous two nights.
You’ll find Sheboygan Pasty Company inside Ranieri’s Four of a Kind Bar and Grill at 811 Indiana Avenue at the south end of downtown Sheboygan! It’s right by the big roundabout just south of the Sheboygan River bridge. The roundabout brings you north to downtown, east to the Harbor District and Blue Harbor Resort, south and east to South Beach, and west to – well – the rest of the state. It all comes together where the tasty pasties await! The Visit Sheboygan Visitor & Information Center is just north across the river, too.
Find out about both in this clip from our State Trunk Tour Podcast!
State Trunk Tour host and head road tripper Eric Paulsen talked with Shelly Harms of VISIT Sheboygan about these two events. Check out the details here or stream it right now below!
