Sausage Brew Festival Draws People Together

The many volunteer faces of the annual Hobart Rotary Club's annual Sausage & Brew Festival in Hobart.

Dylan Sickles is smilin’ big as he temperature-checks the sausage at Hobart Rotary Club's annual Sausage & Brew Festival as  his father in law, Hobart Rotary Club member Art Turner laughs in the background. Three generations of the Turner family were helping out at the annual festival . His shirt says he survived the festival.

The pit crew at the Hobart Rotary Club's annual Sausage & Brew Festival works on cooking up more than 900 sausages as Michael Sandoval, president of the Hobart Rotary, oversees. In the pits, from left are: Ken Muthig, assistant chief for the Hobart Fire Department, Art Turner Hobart Rotary Club member, his son in law Dylan Sickles and Mike Triolo, Rotary Club member  and Michael Sandoval

HOBART – What could be better than bringing hundreds of people together to enjoy some good, locally produced food and  crafted beverages, good conversation,  excellent music and maybe even a little cutting of the rug, or in this case, the parking lot. 

The Hobart Rotary Club's Sausage & Brew Festival  does all that while showcasing the small, upstate community known as Book Village. It brings everyone together and involves many community volunteers. 

The weather stayed perfect for them to serve up more than 930 sausages last Saturday to the estimated 800 to 900 people who traveled to Hobart Book Village.

Lisa Driscoll, a former president of the club and now its treasurer, believes it is the ideal event to draw people together for a good time. "Everybody just comes together to enjoy each others' company. That's why we do it," she said. 

The farthest traveled visitor was from Santa Monica, California, with others from Oregon, Nevada, Florida and many other places. "People from all over come to enjoy our little book town."

There were brief thoughts of finding a larger venue for the festival, however, Driscoll said the objective of the event is to showcase Book Village, to bring people to the stores and enjoy a good time. "It's really perfect the way that it is," said Driscoll.  "People can walk into town and get the flavor of our small community. We decided it is just perfect the way it is."

And it isn't just for out-of-towners, it brings the greater community together as well. Volunteers include family  of Rotary Club members, like the Turner family, with three generations helping out. Others are considered Friends of Rotary and were just helping because they wanted to, like Stacy Lynde, who was cooking up peppers and onions by the gallon. She considers herself an all around community volunteer. There were organizations, including the Hobart Fire Department, South Kortright Central School Honor Society students, Stamford-Hobart Inner Wheel, the Stamford Rotary and others.

"We have 25 to 30 volunteers and some rotate in and out throughout the day, but most stay for the duration. I try to get them to take a break, but most refuse. We appreciate all their help and they are really dedicated."

Driscoll said they too enjoy the interaction, seeing friends and neighbors and chatting with everyone. "It makes me happy when I see the volunteers happy and enjoying themselves. They know how it all works and it is really nice. A majority of them are repeat helpers."

While there are some new people who work themselves into the fold, Driscoll said they make it all possible and all work very hard. It is truly a community effort. They served 500 to 600 meals on Saturday.

"One of our bands had an emergency and the other two bands filled in for an hour each," said Driscoll. "It was fantastic to see how they pulled together to cover for the other group."

It is the Hobart Rotary Club's main fundraising event, which allows them to throw a free community turkey dinner,  one way they give back to the community. They also plant the flower barrels, provide the senior fruit baskets and they donate a small amount to the other organizations. "It funds the things we do throughout the year." 

Saturday was the eighth annual festival and plans are already underway to do it again next year.