Beef-a-Rama is a Minocqua tradition almost 50 years old that has brought nearly 500,000 visitors to the area over the years. It is a fun-filled celebration complete with a 5K run, roast cook-offs, games, costumes, live music, a craft show, and delicious local fare to complement the ever-present beef. Each year an entire ton of beef is served to over 12,000 people during the Beef-a-Rama celebration.
The Lakeland Rotary Foundation’s Annual Rump Roast 5K Run and Walk is held the first morning of the annual Beef-A-Rama weekend. The Rump Roast Run offers both 5K and 10K races for serious runners and a 5K course for joggers and walkers of all ages and abilities. The race begins in downtown Minocqua and makes its way along trails, lake shores and through the woods with fall colors ablaze.
There is also a “Calf Mile” race for kids 12 and under the same day. The race starts and finishes in Bearskin Park at the old train trestle. After the races are complete and winners have received their trophies – a 20-lb. roast— the festivities get underway with a day-long roast cook-off.
Participants cook their roasts in downtown Minocqua, often in teams and surrounded by live music, spectators, and various games and activities. Once the judging is finalized, there is often a beef-eating contest followed by a Parade of Roasts, complete with mini-floats featuring the roasts from the day’s cook-off. After the short parade, the roasts are sliced and sold as sandwiches until they’re gone.
The craft show takes place all day in nearby Torpy Park, and live music is ongoing throughout the celebration.
Beef-a-Rama is a wacky, family-friendly celebration of good food, friends and small-town America and should not be missed.
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