Elberta, Ala. — (OBA) — The Elberta German Sausage Festival is returning with a full day of food, fun, vendors, and community support. The festival helps fund the Elberta Volunteer Fire Department. The event draws large crowds and steady foot traffic through the town park. Families visit for fresh Elberta Sausage, live entertainment, and a broad lineup of vendor booths.

The festival is scheduled for Saturday, October 25, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., weather permitting. It takes place in Elberta Town Park in central Elberta. The festival is a one-day event held twice a year on the last Saturdays of March and October.

The event serves as a key fundraiser for the fire department and supports improvements in the town. Local nonprofits benefit through booth sales, parking activities, and other event-linked efforts. The festival began in 1978 and has grown into a major community tradition.

The food lineup centers on Elberta’s famous German sausage and sauerkraut, known for the “One with two without” order style. The proprietary recipe traces back to Alfred Stucki, and today the sausage is produced locally with premium cuts and old‑world spices. All‑natural casings are used and no preservatives are added. Sausage is packed and bagged two days before each festival, kept fresh and never frozen.

Grilling operations handle thousands of pounds of links each festival on a roughly 30‑foot grill. Racks allow crews to flip and move large batches at once. Sausages move down the grill to an unloading area, then into the serving building where they are placed into buns, wrapped, and carried to serving windows.

Food choices extend beyond sausage. Visitors can find roasted corn, barbecue, kettle corn, and classic carnival fare. Traditional German sides and festival staples are offered. A broad mix of vendors helps round out the daylong experience.

The vendor footprint approaches 200 arts and crafts booths with additional spaces for community groups. The layout is walkable and concentrated inside the park. Free admission encourages families to arrive early or visit during off‑peak times.

Entertainment runs throughout the day with regional bands, polka favorites, and family performances on multiple stages. A children’s area is planned inside the park. Activities are designed to keep families together and within easy reach of food and rest areas.

Parking is not centralized for this event. Attendees may park along public rights‑of‑way outside the festival area while observing local and state laws. Nearby pay‑to‑park options may be available through churches or private citizens.

Handicap parking is reserved around the Police Department and the Municipal Complex across from the park. Vehicles in those spaces must display proper placards. Improperly parked vehicles are subject to towing at the owner’s expense.

The festival profits spread benefits across the community while supporting emergency services. Proceeds help ensure continued operations and equipment upgrades. The event’s long history and free admission make it a consistent regional draw each spring and fall.

Visitors are encouraged to arrive early for easier parking and to respect neighborhood access and driveways. Posted signs and accessibility zones are strictly enforced. Families planning midday visits should expect the heaviest crowds and longer lines.