Around 160 runners and walkers participated in the 5K. New Ulm’s Chris Gordon finished with a time of 21 minutes, four seconds.

Gordon, a teacher, author and marathon runner, said he found the South Payne Street hill on the race course a little challenging but he said he was happy to have a new road race to run in New Ulm.

“I really appreciate the Minnesota Brewery Running Series coming back to New Ulm and helping promote health, wellness and running, which is one of my favorite ways to be healthy,” he said. “While it was hot, it was the camaraderie of the crowd that made it worthwhile. The crowd was the best part of it. They helped motivate me and other runners up the Payne Street hill which is never a cakewalk. It was nice to have shade coming down Schell’s Road to the finish.

Gordon said New Ulm has a great running community.

Staff photo by Fritz Busch New Ulm’s Chris Gordon, second from right, leads 157 runners and walkers at the Schell’s Brewery 5k Run for Beer Saturday. Gordon won the race in 21:04.

“We need to have more events like this to promote a healthier, stronger community. We can all be stronger together,” he said.

Nobody was near Gordon at the finish but there was a close battle for second place with sprinting at the finish between John Hoffmann, 17, of New Ulm and Nick Peters, 45, of Nicollet. They finished in a virtual tie.

“I like having some competition,” said Peters after the race.

Hoffmann plays soccer and is a sprinter on the New Ulm High School track team.

Minnesota Valley Lutheran High School student Faith Peters, 17, of Nicollet was the first female finisher, just ahead of her sister Grace, 18.

Staff photo by Fritz Busch Sarah Dretske of Richfield, Wa. wins the women's steinholding title at Bavarian Blast at the Brown County Fairgrounds Saturday.

The race drew a variety of runners including local participants plus many Twin Cities veteran runners competing in the Minnesota Brewery Run For Beer Running Series.

The physical competition continued later that night at the Bavarian Blast Grounds for the annual steinholding contest. Farmington construction worker Paul Raymond won his third Bavarian Blast men’s steinholding title, holding his stein full of water for five minutes, three seconds. He’s won steinholding contests in St. Peter in 2024 and 2025.

“I can’t believe I won it again,” he said. “It was fun. New Ulm is a fabulous town. Everybody’s here just to have fun.”

Gaylord welder Adam Dauer finished second among 18 contestants. He won the contest several years ago.

Other male contestants included firefighter James Burton of Minnetrista who finished second last year.

Staff photo by Fritz Busch A little girl holds the hand of a character at Bavarian Blast Saturday.

A native of Wales, Great Britain, Burton said he’ll keep competing in the contest.

“It was fun,” he said. “Bavarian Blast is great. I love all the German music, other music, food, drink and everything else that goes with it. I love my country but I love coming to New Ulm and all its festivals. There’s so much fun stuff going on here.”

Sarah Dretske of Richfield, Washington, the wife of New Ulm native Brian Dretske, won the women’s steinholding contest, holding her stein for two minutes, 27 seconds.

“It was awesome. It was so fun. I saw last year’s winner, (New Ulm native Michelle Braulick of Waconia) and I was a little intimidated,” she said. “Bavarian Blast is a blast. I can’t wait to have a beer. I’ve waited 20 years to come here for this. Now I finally made it and had a blast.”

Immediately following the Steinholidng contest “70’s Magic Sunshine Band” took the stage performing a variety of hit songs from the 1970s. The final band of the evening of “The Hype” made a jump to the 1980s, performing the biggest hits of glam rock bands Motley Crue, Def Leppard, Poison, Bon Jovi, and Aerosmith.

Staff photo by Fritz Busch Bockfest Boys musicians Scott Sparlin, left, and Tony Berg belt out a tune at Bavarian Blast Saturday.

The fun continued with a Sunday morning Polka Church service featuring Mollie B, the Bavarian Blast parade and a performance from Church of Cash.

Staff photo by Fritz Busch Nick Peters of Nicollet, left, and John Hoffmann of New Ulm finish in a virtual tie for second place at the Schell's Brewery Run for Beer Saturday.