PastyFest draws large crowd to Calumet

Thanks to some great weather, this past weekend’s annual PastyFest was a smash hit for stomachs everywhere.

The festivities began with a parade along Fifth Street in Calumet. Spectators then filled Agassiz Park to enjoy live music, arts and crafts, and of course, pasties!

Calumet High School student Jake Steinhoff designed the logo for the event. Calumet village comptroller Susan Dana, who was honored with a community service award, says this year’s crowd was one of the biggest in recent memory.

“This is our 11th year, and I think every year we get more and more people and it’s just a great day for the community to get together and celebrate the pasty,” said Dana.

One of her favorite events is the Bake-Off, and this year’s competition did not disappoint.

“We never know who’s going to enter, and lots of people just show up that day and they bring their family recipe, so that’s always an exciting time,” Dana said.

Connie’s Kitchen won Best Commercial Pasty. Daniel and Marsha Klein won Best Traditional Pasty honors, and the nod for Best Non-Traditional Pasty went to Tim Bies.