Illinois volunteers grill 100-foot-long bratwurst

BELLEVILLE, IL -- About 50 people volunteered to carefully grill a 100-foot bratwurst without burning or breaking it at a bar in Illinois.

Silver Creek Saloon hosted the practice run Tuesday to prepare for the city's 200th anniversary celebration, where the volunteers will attempt to grill a 200-foot-long bratwurst, the Belleville News-Democrat reported. The Bicentennial Oktoberfest Weekend Celebration is set to be held Sept. 19-21 in downtown Belleville.

On Tuesday, Larry Schubert, who made the 60-pound sausage, led the effort to unroll it onto a specially made 100-foot metal trough. Volunteers exercised more caution after practicing in August with a 50-foot bratwurst that broke in several places because it was turned too quickly and the grill was too hot. Organizers walked around to inspect and fix splits in the meat.

A nearby baking company will make a 200-foot-long bun to go with the bratwurst when it's grilled at the community event on Sept. 21. Donations will be collected from people who want to eat a piece of the bratwurst. Proceeds will benefit local food pantries.