GEMÜTLICHKEIT (warm friendliness, good cheer)“Willkommen zum WURSTFEST! Prosit, und hab' Spasz!” is
slogan for this really appealing annual event. It means “Welcome. Cheers! To your health, and have fun!”
Combining a unique German community in South Texas, great food, fabulous bands imported from Germany for occasion, amusement rides, affordable entry, a well-run event and often beautiful weather, New Braunfels, Texas, “Wurstfest” has all ingredients of a great family outing. (Plenty of local accommodations available, as this is an area where “gemütlichkeit” is plentiful and tourists are welcome.)
New Braunfels is located just a few miles north of San Antonio, Tx., which offers a full array of activities to include in your schedule – Fiesta Texas, Sea World, Alamo, RiverWalk, and wonderful Mexican food and markets, should you wish to make this a multicultural adventure.
Having just returned from a lovely evening at Wurstfest, I’m compelled to tell you how much fun it is. We began on a perfect fall evening unable to resist smell of sizzling pork chops and huge German sausages served on a stick, complimented by a great selection of beers, potato soup, German dinners, Reuben sandwiches, corn on cob – and more -- and ended our evening with pfankuchen, funnel cake and coffee.
We rode beautiful Ferris wheel and then settled under Das Grosse Zelt, big tent, at end of Marktplatz to be charmed by 10-piece brass band from Germany whose rousing tunes got everyone up and dancing – just as many kids as adults, and partners not at all required. They were only topped by band that followed.
This Wurstfest, celebration of German sausage, began in New Braunfels in 1961, just a one-day affair which nonetheless drew a crowd of 2,000 due to press coverage throughout nation and in Germany.
Since then, it has grown to a ten-day affair with well-maintained permanent facilities drawing over 100,000 and raising many dollars for local charities. Your good time will also be a good deed!
