Beer and sausage: It's a Northeast tradition. But for only the second year, Kramarczuk's Sausage Company will celebrate its long tradition of quality weiners with its own street festival. The Kramarczuk's Kielbasa Festival 2011 starts Friday and goes till Sunday right outside the restaurant in northeast Minneapolis.
The three days are packed with Eastern European street food, plenty of tap beer (Grain Belt Nordeast, of course) and live music. The $10 entry fee gets you a commemorative Kramarczuk's beer stein and your first beer free (I'd say that's worth the price of admission). The bands include Joey Ryan & the Inks, Koo Koo Kanga Roo and others.
Other highlights: A 30-foot Krakowka sausage will be on display Friday night, a potato pierogi eating contest on Saturday night and don't forget to try the winning sausage in the Kielbasa recipe contest.
Details: 215 E. Hennepin Av., Mpls. (in the parking lot next to Kramarczuk's). 5-10 p.m. Friday, 11 a.m.-10 p.m. Saturday and 11 a.m.–6 p.m. Sunday. More info here.
