BEST OF BOCKFEST
Photos by Clay Schuldt and Amy Zents
Lexie Loomer of Mankato collected around 150 plastic cups during the Bockfest celebration. This was Loomer’s first visit to Bockfest.
The Bockfest Boys take the stage to open the 2026 Bockfest
From left to right Morgan Gulden, Zach Gulden, Courtney Kerkhoff and Brady Kerkhoff wait for the Schell’s gate to open and Bockfest to begins.
The woods beneath Schell’s were alive with attendees.
Will Sutherland holds up the bock, a cutout of a goat, after finding it under a pile of logs Saturday at Bockfest at August Schell Brewery. Sutherland was the first to locate a bock in this year's Bock Hunt, a scavenger hunt held across the festival grounds and surrounding woods. Photo by Amy Zents
Sisters Melony Merkel (left) and Lillian Merkel (right) attend their first Bockfest together at Schell’s. The two agreed to help their father hunt for the Bocks in the woods.
Jared Blackwell of Nicollet, left, his sister Cheyenne Blackwell of Brandon, S.D., center, and their father Jeremy Blackwell of New Ulm wait in line Saturday at Bockfest at August Schell Brewery. Jared’s pretzel necklace follows festival rules — outside food is allowed only if worn around the neck.
Lexie Loomer of Mankato collected around 150 plastic cups during the Bockfest celebration. This was Loomer’s first visit to Bockfest.
The Bockfest Boys take the stage to open the 2026 Bockfest
From left to right Morgan Gulden, Zach Gulden, Courtney Kerkhoff and Brady Kerkhoff wait for the Schell’s gate to open and Bockfest to begins.
The woods beneath Schell’s were alive with attendees.
Will Sutherland holds up the bock, a cutout of a goat, after finding it under a pile of logs Saturday at Bockfest at August Schell Brewery. Sutherland was the first to locate a bock in this year's Bock Hunt, a scavenger hunt held across the festival grounds and surrounding woods. Photo by Amy Zents
Sisters Melony Merkel (left) and Lillian Merkel (right) attend their first Bockfest together at Schell’s. The two agreed to help their father hunt for the Bocks in the woods.
Jared Blackwell of Nicollet, left, his sister Cheyenne Blackwell of Brandon, S.D., center, and their father Jeremy Blackwell of New Ulm wait in line Saturday at Bockfest at August Schell Brewery. Jared’s pretzel necklace follows festival rules — outside food is allowed only if worn around the neck.