File photo The August Schell brewery grounds will be packed with Bock Fest celebrants on Saturday. It is the 36th annual edition of the festival, which draws thousands, come rain, shine or snow.

cschuldt@nujournal.com

NEW ULM — The first weekend of March is a few days away and with it comes the annual Bockfest celebration.

The August Schell Brewery will host the 36th Bockfest celebration Saturday at the brewery grounds.

The gate to Schell’s Brewery will be open from 11 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Saturday. The cost of admission is $10. Gates will open at 10:30 a.m. for advance ticket holders. The first keg will be tapped at 11 a.m. and the music will begin.

Alpensterne, one of the most unique and musically diversified groups, will play from 10:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. New Ulm’s Bockfest Boys will play until 4:30 p.m.

The Bockfest celebration will go forward rain or shine, snow or mud. Last year’s Bockfest was hit with rain and later hail, but that never stops festgoers, who will celebrate even in the bitter cold.

The weather forecast for Saturday calls for a low of 19 degrees and a high of 34 degrees. There is a 38% chance of snow in the morning.

Visitors are encouraged to participate in the bock hunt. Each year seven wooden bock heads are hidden in the woods surrounding Schell’s. The legend is if all seven were found, winter would end early.

The fun does not end with Bockfest. After the celebration, festgoers are encouraged to continue celebrating at other New Ulm establishments. The Royal Oak Event Center on 20th South St. will hold an after-Bockfest party from 8:30 p.m. to 12:15 a.m. with live music by IV Play. Admission is $15 cash.

Throughout Saturday Inspire Weddings at 126 N. Minnesota will team up with Gutes Essen Deli & Catering to bring visitor breakfast and beverages before and after Bockfest.

Inspire Weddings will be open from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. Admission is free with drink sales for those 21 and older. There will be morning and afternoon happy hours with entertainment from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m.

A breakfast menu will available in the morning. From 11 a.m. to 7 p.m., the menu will include brat with fixings, sloppy joes, soft pretzels sticks and loaded chicken nachos.