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Illustration of a sauce jar labeled Milwaukee’s Best Sauce Contest with tomatoes, onions, olives, and herbs spilling out, alongside logos for Festa Italiana and Capri Communities on a blue patterned background.

June 1, 2025 | 12 – 2:30 PM

Aurora Pavilion | Henry Maier Festival Park

200 N Harbor Dr, Milwaukee

Close-up of a pot filled with chunky tomato sauce being stirred with a wooden spoon. The sauce is red with visible tomato pieces and seeds.

Capri Communities is once again searching for the best homemade Italian Red Sauce in town! This year, we’re spicing things up with two categories—meat and meatless. Join us at the Aurora Pavilion at Henry Maier Festival Park and taste your way through the top 3 red sauces in each category and vote for your favorite to take home the prize!

TIMELINE

  • Now – April 30: Enter Your Sauce
  • May 3: Initial Judging Round held at St. Rita Square
    • There will be two categories – meat and meatless red sauces
    • Contestants should bring one quart of sauce in slow cooker with ladle
    • Top 3 finalists in both categories will be named to compete at Fest Italiana on June 1
  • June 1: Festa Italiana, MKE Best Sauce Competition at Aurora Pavilion on Summerfest Grounds
    • Finalists will need to provide 3 gallons of sauce
    • A heated Nesco container will be provided for you to prepare and transport
    • $40 gift cards will be provided to finalists to offset ingredients

AWARDS & PRIZES: The top 3 finalists in each category will receive certificates at the prelims held at St. Rita Square on May 3. Both a People’s Choice Champion and Judges’ Choice Champion will be crowned in each category at Festa Italiana on June 1.

In addition to bragging rights, the People’s Choice and Judges’ Choice Champions in each category will each take home the coveted Golden Ladle Trophy, along with a $200 cash prize!

May the best sauce win!

Back by popular demand! St. Rita Square is again on the hunt to find the best homemade Italian red sauce that our city has to offer. If you or a loved one makes a pretty darn good sauce, this contest is for you!

TIMELINE

  • Now – April 27: Enter Your Sauce
  • May 3: Initial Judging Round held at St. Rita Square
  • June 1: Top 5 Compete at Festa Italiana at Henry Maier Festival Park

AWARDS & PRIZES: Both a People’s Champion and Judge’s Champion will be crowned at Festa Italiana on June 1. We will also recognize the 2nd and 3rd place People’s Choice winners. In addition to bragging rights, winners will receive cash prizes, certificates, and trophies for 1st place, medals for 2nd and 3rd place. The People’s Choice and Judges’ Choice 1st place winners will receive the coveted Golden Ladle trophies. People’s Choice winners receive: 1stplace = $200, 2nd place = $100, 3rd place = $50 cash prizes. The Judge’s Choice Winner will receive a $200 cash prize.

May the best sauce win!

Please complete the below form to enter your sauce.

Enter your sauce by Wednesday, April 30, 2025

Name
What Type of Red Sauce Are You Entering in the Contest?
$0.00
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Questions – Contact Julie Gey at jgey@capricommunities.com or 414-485-6605

White background with large, partially visible text reading ST. RITA SQUARE. Below are the words a capri community, with blue and yellow curved lines and dots flanking capri.
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728 E Pleasant St.
Milwaukee, WI 53202
414-485-6600

Located on the vibrant and historic Lower East Side, St. Rita Square has raised the bar for senior living in Milwaukee. Residents are just steps away from the city’s best restaurants, shopping, sports and entertainment. Offering a full continuum of housing options for active aging adults, St. Rita Square has its own distinct style and personality, so whatever your needs may be we have a place for you!