The 40th Annual Bockfest begins at 11 a.m. Saturday at the brewery.

“People can get in at 10:30 a.m. with pre-sold tickets, which I recommend,” said Schell’s Vice President Kyle Marti. “Like last year, we’ll have six entrance lines to get people in quickly. No worries.”

The Bockfest Boys will perform on stage until 1 p.m. at the west end of the parking lot. The Blue Ringers follow until 4:30 p.m. D.J. Strudel Boy will perform below the brewery from 11 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

The scavenger hunt for seven bocks (wooden tokens shaped like goat heads) hidden in the woods around the brewery can lead to prizes.

“If people find all seven bocks, it brings an early end of winter,” said Marti. “The weather sounds good. Partly sunny, high in the 40s. Sunshine would be perfect.”

A beer stein holding contest continues to grow with several hours of competition for men and women.

Marti will light a large, wooden goat on fire, marking the end of Bockfest shortly after 4 p.m. Saturday.

“We’ll have lots of brats to eat, large crackling fires, professional beer pokers to add a touch of caramel flavor to beer. We added a cigar bar for a nice little touch,” Marti said.

He said tap beverage choices include new Blackberry Seltzer, Schell’s Sangria, Schell’s Light and Schell’s Bock, 1919 Root Beer and water.

Free shuttle vehicles sponsored by Schell’s and the B & L will be available for people to travel between the brewery, B & L Bar downtown and Best Western Plus beginning at 5 p.m. Friday and at 8 a.m. Saturday. Call 507-766-6932 or 507-217-3850.

“Sober cab” shuttle vehicles will also be around for travel to other spots in town.

“We appreciate all the local community support. Bockfest wouldn’t be what it is without volunteers,” said Marti. “New Ulm is just a great host. I don’t hear of anybody having a bad time at bars and restaurants. Thank you to New Ulm Police for keeping everybody safe.”

The NU Franklin hosts a pre-Bockfest party 6-9 p.m. Friday at 126 Minnesota St. North.

The Bockfest After Party features the Fat City All-Stars 6-8 p.m. Saturday and IV Play at 8 p.m. Saturday at the Royal Oak Event Center, 301 20th St. South.

For more information, visit https://www.newulm.com/events.