Rotary clubs in Hamburg, Lions, Kiwanis host Burger Fest July 18, 2015

The Village of Hamburg will mark the 130^th birthday of the hamburger at Burger Fest on Saturday, July 18 from noon to 11:30 p.m. Located along Main and Buffalo Streets (Rte. 62) and in the Municipal Parking Lot, the festival offers something for people of all ages and interests. Distinctive food offerings will be found at The Taste of Hamburg which showcases samples of the best offerings of about 25 local restaurants.

 

The one-day festival includes live music (headliners are the Breakaway Band, 7:30 to 11:30 p.m.) in three locations throughout the day, children’s activities and inflatable rides at First Niagara Bank Kids Space; an arts and crafts show and sale, the KeyBank Car Show, the Magic on Main Street and the Labatt beer tent.

 

Live music begins at noon with Terry Buchwald as Elvis; Tom Stahl & The Dangerfields at 2:30 and Passion Works at 5. Rock ‘n Roll to the Rescue and Nickel City Road Show entertain on Main Street beginning at noon - Rock n Roll to the Rescue until 4 p.m. during the Classic Car Show hosted by the Rotary Club of Hamburg and until 4:30 for Mike Margerum. The Burger Fest Arts & Crafts Show is scheduled from noon to 7 p.m. along Main and Buffalo streets, sharing space with merchants and not-for-profits. The Car Show has 42 classes, including Corvettes to ’67 and Chevy to ’57, Best Car from Hamburg and Best Specialty Vehicle. Call Tom at 649-6800 for more information. Registration on the day of the show is $15, $12 if pre-registered. Enter onto Main Street from the Center Street side.

 

The festival celebrates Hamburg, N.Y. as the true birthplace of America’s favorite sandwich, the hamburger, at the Hamburg Fairgrounds in 1885. The annual festival is hosted on the third Saturday of July by the Rotary Club of Hamburg, the Hamburg Rotary Sunrise Club, the Town of Hamburg Lions Club and the Hamburg Kiwanis Club. Hamburg held its first Burger Fest in 1985 to mark the100th anniversary of the birth of the hamburger after organizers discovered a history book detailing the burger’s origins.

 

Frank and Charles Menches, food vendors who traveled the world’s fair circuit, and who have been credited with also creating Cracker Jacks and ice cream cones, concocted the all-American burger. Legend has it that the Menches brothers ran out of their usual pork sausage that hot, fateful day at the fair and turned to local butchers to replenish their supplies. When no pork was available, a butcher suggested ground beef. The Menches brothers purchased the beef, but added secret ingredients, including coffee grounds to create a unique flavor. The hamburger was born! For a schedule of events, vendor registration forms and other information about Burger Fest, please visit our website at www.hamburgburgerfest.com. Additional sponsors include Waste Management, Great Harvest Bread Co., Wegmans and Hamburg Gaming.