Every November since 1961, New Braunfels throws a ten-day "Salute to Sausage" on the edge of Landa Park — polka bands, potato pancakes, pitchers of German beer, and a town that takes its 1845 German founding seriously enough to party about it. Wurstfest is the biggest event on the New Braunfels calendar and one of the largest German festivals in the country.
When and where
Wurstfest runs ten days starting the Friday before the first Monday in November, on the festival grounds along the Comal River next to Landa Park. Evenings and weekends are the big crowds; weekday afternoons are the local move.
What to eat
- Sausage every way — on a stick, in a sandwich, by the plate. Try more than one vendor; they are club and nonprofit booths and each has partisans.
- Potato pancakes with applesauce — the sleeper hit of the festival.
- Fried everything — this is where fair food meets German food.
- Strudel and roasted nuts on the way out.
The music
Multiple stages run simultaneously: traditional polka and oompah in the Wursthalle, and Texas country, rock, and conjunto on the outdoor stages. Alex Meixner and the polka headliners turn the Wursthalle into a full-on dance party by evening — do not skip it even if polka is not your thing. Chicken dance participation is, practically speaking, mandatory.
First-timer strategy
- Buy admission online ahead of peak nights; kids get in cheap or free depending on age.
- Cash speeds up food booths, though most take cards now.
- Parking near the grounds is scarce — use the shuttles or walk from downtown.
- Pace the beer: it is sold in liters and the night is long.
- Cold snaps are common in November — layers beat costumes.
- Sunday afternoons are the most family-friendly window.
Beyond the grounds
The whole town leans in during Wurstfest week. Gruene Hall books strong shows, downtown restaurants run specials, and hotels fill months out — book early if you are coming from out of town.