Illinois city grills up 200-foot bratwurst to celebrate birthday; did 100-foot trial run

In this Sunday, Sept. 21, 2014 photo, Jeff Butzinger of Belleville, Ill., and other volunteers carefully unroll a 200-foot bratwurst before it is cooked in downtown Belleville during the Belleville Bicentennial celebration. About 120 pounds of meat were used to make the giant brat. (AP Photo/Belleville News-Democrat, Steve Nagy) (The Associated Press)

In this Sunday, Sept. 21, 2014 photo, volunteers work to keep a 200-foot bratwurst in place before it is grilled in downtown Belleville, Ill., during the city's Bicentennial celebration. About 120 pounds of meat were used to make the giant brat. (AP Photo/Belleville News-Democrat, Steve Nagy) (The Associated Press)

In this Sunday, Sept. 21, 2014 photo, volunteer brat rollers work to keep a 200-foot bratwurst in place as it is grilled in downtown Belleville, Ill., during the last day of the city’s Bicentennial celebration. About 120 pounds of meat were used to make the giant brat. (AP Photo/Belleville News-Democrat, Steve Nagy) (The Associated Press)

Residents in the southwest Illinois city of Belleville celebrated its 200th birthday with a 200-foot bratwurst, complete with a 200-foot bun.

Larry Schubert and his team from Schubert's Packing Co. in Millstadt used about 120 pounds of meat to make the brat, which volunteers grilled Sunday, the final day of the city's bicentennial celebration, the Belleville News-Democrat reported (http://bit.ly/1po9SwO ).

A few days earlier, a saloon hosted a half-size practice run for grilling the mega-bratwurst.

Lindenwood University and Southwestern Illinois College athletes helped march the bun down a main thoroughfare, making a wide turn in a parking lot to finish the delivery. The athletes also helped roll the bratwurst onto a 200-foot metal grilling trough.

Event organizers decided not to pay a fee to have the bratwurst record attempt recognized by the World Record Academy.

The event raised $1,600 for local food pantries.

___

Information from: Belleville News-Democrat, http://www.bnd.com