Happy Friday folks! Whew, we made it. Another weekend finally here. I hope you’ve got something exciting planned for the weekend to share with me on Monday. As for me, my plans are to spend time with my sis, who is coming home from Colorado. For our future Friday topics, I’m giving “Festival Friday” a whirl. Tell me what you think. I hope to provide you with a look at fun festivals happening throughout Missouri. For this weekend, you can visit one of my favorite little towns, Hermann, for their 33rd Annual Wurstfest. What is wurst you ask? Well, let me enlighten you. It’s German sausage. For the folks out there who don’t know much about Hermann, it’s known for the strong German roots that it’s managed to hold close to since their settlement in 1837. This picturesque town is nestled alongside the Missouri River at the intersection of Highways 19 and 100. Wurstfest, as you’ve probably guessed by now, is all about the sausage. But if there’s one thing you should know about Hermann, they can take something as simple as sausage and make one heck of a to-do about it! This festival is located at areas all around town with most of the activities being at Stone Hill Winery Pavilion and Hermannhof Festhalle, located across the street from Hermannhof Winery and next to the Amtrak station. If you’re a foot loose and fancy free traveler in fresh from the train, they have a trolley available. For information on the trolley, call 636-575-6920. The Saturday highlights include the Wurst Competition & Display at Hermann Festhalle most of the day, German music from 12-4 at Stone Hill Winery and the Festhalle. At 1:00 the Wurstjaeger Dancers will be jigging for ya at Stone Hill Winery and again at 2:00 at the Festhalle. They also have sausage-making demos, old-time equipment displays, and a Braunschweiger Ball (please don’t tell me you eat Braunschweiger. Yuck-o!). Sunday morning catch the Whole Hog Sausage Breakfast from 7:30-12 at the Firehouse #1 and don’t miss the Weiner Dog Derby (this is exactly what you think it is. How cute?!) at 1:00 at the City Park. Again on Sunday, you have the return of German Music and the Wurstjaeger Dancers at both venues. Make sure and visit Tin Mill Brewery, located downtown, for their yummy in-house microbrewed beer along with the famous wine at Stone Hill and Hermannhof. Since I already have my weekend set on spending good quality family time, I hope you can get to Hermann and report back next week. I have no doubt it will be a great time. Hopefully the rain will let up for the fest. For more information, please visit http://www.visithermann.com/ or stop by the Welcome Center located on Market St. Happy Weekend! The Gravel-Roadin’ Guru, Pan