Sauerkraut Festival :: Phelps NY

Sauerkraut Festival

Welcome to the 44th World-Famous Sauerkraut Festival
in Phelps, New York!

Rated Among The Top Ten Festivals In The Middle Atlantic States!!!!

Thursday August 5th through Saturday August 7th.

History of the Sauerkraut Festival

The Prince and Princess of the Sauerkraut Court

The Phelps Sauerkraut Festival began in 1967 with a one-day program (The Home of Silver Floss Sauerkraut) with many activities including:

Parade
Little League Baseball Game
Marathon Race
Chicken BBQ
Queen & Court
Stage Show
Street Dance
Fireworks
Arts & Crafts Show (added in the second year)

http://www.sauerkrautnews.com The Phelps Chamber of Commerce started this festival because Phelps was one of the largest producers of sauerkraut in the world. Eventually, a committee made up of members from the community and community organizations took over the various aspects of this festival with the support of the Silver Floss Sauerkraut Company, now the Great Lakes Kraut Company

Sauerkraut factories within the Village of Phelps:

The Seneca Sauerkraut Factory located at the West end of Main Street was sold to Seneca Foods, Waterloo, NY and the building was demolished December of 1994. The Silver Floss/Empire State Pickling Company located on Eagle Street, Phelps, NY was sold to Curtis-Burns Inc of Rochester September 1, 1965, then sold to Comstock Foods. Canning ended in 1985, but cutting continued in Phelps and eventually went to Shortsville and Gorham.

Even though Phelps no longer has any sauerkraut factories working, we continue to have this festival in conjunction with the American Legion (Auxiliary Unit 457) and Phelps Fire Department and it is now a four-day event, the first full weekend in August.

Thursday night is “Kiddie Night”. Friday night is “music” night. Saturday events begin at 9:00 AM with a 20K race, arts and crafts show, midway rides, parade (one of the largest in the area), music, cake cutting by the Prince & Princess and their court, community vendors and fireworks. There is the Finger Lakes Street Machines Car Show on Sunday along with the arts and crafts and rides.