Texans are really into Wurstfest in New Braunfels.
Stacey Lovett for MySA.com
Fans of the beloved Wurstfest are eagerly anticipating its return next month – and for good reason.
The New Braunfels celebration centered around beer and sausage will make its much anticipated return on Friday, November 5 and will run through Sunday, November 14. Texans can head to the Wurstfest grounds in Landa Park to indulge in beer, sausage, and other German-themed goodies and entertainment.
Such entertainment for this year includes the Alpine Village Band, master yodeler Kerry Christensen, Cloverleaf Orchestra, and The Oompahs.
Wurstfest is New Braunfels’ annual celebration of German culture featuring a wide selection of German foods, not just the sausages for which the festival is named.
The 2021 edition of the festivities is important for multiple reasons, including the fact that Wurstfest is celebrating its 60th anniversary. In 1961, Ed Grist, the city’s meat inspector who obviously took his work very seriously, set out to create a festival to honor sausage. The inaugural, one-day event had 2,000 attendees, but grew quickly in following years given its popularity and the organizers’ moves to accommodate its success. Today, Wurstfest welcomes more than 200,000 attendees throughout the 10-day festivities.
Food and booze lovers missed out on the event in 2020 due to the coronavirus pandemic, the first cancellation in the event’s history. Though the event was only skipped out last year, it may feel much longer as regular attendees look forward to seeing updates to the festival grounds.
The damaged roof of the Wursthalle has been removed on the Wurstfest site in New Braunfels as of Tuesday, May 5, 2020. Stages and other features have been covered for protection from the elements. A major fire destroyed much of the site in November.
Billy Calzada / San Antonio Express-News
In November 2019, days after that year’s event concluded, two fires broke out at a vendor booth on the festival grounds. The popular Marktplatz, a building where vendors set up, was badly damaged and required major repairs estimated at $50,000. As part of the renovations, a breezeway lined with donor-sponsored bricks will highlight just how beloved the event is after decades in the community.
The party will get started at 4 p.m. on opening day and keep going until 11 p.m. Advance tickets can be purchased online for $18 while admission at the gate costs $20, though admission is free on weekdays and the closing day. Children 12 and under get in for free.
You can purchase tickets here.
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Wurstfest kicks off Friday, November 5 in New Braunfels with 10 days of drinking, dancing and food.
Lisa Krantz /Staff
Written By: Sarah MartinezSarah Martinez is a digital producer for MySA. She is a San Antonio native and an alumna of Syracuse University. | @smartinezwrites