Add the New Braunfels Texas Wurstfest to Your Fall Travel
By Susan Dunn
GEMÜTLICHKEIT (warm friendliness, good cheer)
“Willkommen zum WURSTFEST! Prosit, und hab’ Spasz!” is the
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 the occasion, amusement
rides, affordable entry, a well-run event and often beautiful
weather, the New Braunfels, Texas, “Wurstfest” has all the
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, the Alamo, the 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 the smell of the 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 the cob – and more — and ended our
evening with pfankuchen, funnel cake and coffee.
We rode the beautiful Ferris wheel and then settled under Das
Grosse Zelt, the big tent, at the end of the Marktplatz to be
charmed by the 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 the
band that followed.
This Wurstfest, the 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 the 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!
You can learn more about Wurstfest at their official website:
http://www.wurstfest.com/index.html , and from the Wurstfest
Association, Post Office Box 310309, New Braunfels, Texas
78131-0309, 830/625-9167, or toll free 1-800-221-4369.
Admission is a mere $8.00 per person (children under 12 free),
with special rates for early purchase, groups, and day
discounts.
ADD ANHALT
If Wurstfest dates should ever coincide with the 3rd Sunday in
October (and even if they don’t), make it a homerun by including
public dancing at Anhalt Hall, just down the road apiece, about
28 miles west of New Braunfels.
Anhalt was settled by German pioneers around 1857 and this may
be the oldest dance hall in Texas, with a newly renovated 6000
square foot hardwood dance floor usually featuring a German band
(you MUST do the German Grand March) and then a C&W band (local
talent).
It’s open air and you can sit in the grandstands and watch or
pay to get on the dance floor. Kids welcome and great food and
beer. It is run by the Germania Farmers Verein, originally
established to protect the settlers and their livestock from
Indians. It’s out in the country and an experience you don’t
want to miss.
How far out in the country? Well, according to the website, in
the 1970s “the population along Anhalt Road between Farm Road
475 and the hall was estimated at ten.” Population figures for
2000 were not available.
Admission and ample parking are free; there’s a minimal charge
($7?) if you want to get on the dance floor (which you will)!
To read more about Anhalt, go to the Texas Honky Tonk Dance
Hall website: http://www.honkytonktx.com/dancehalls/.
They also feature public dancing during Mayfest (3rd Sunday in
May), and Summerfest (last Saturday in July).
©Susan Dunn, MA, Personal Life and EQ Coach,
http://www.susandunn.cc . Offering coaching, Internet courses
and ebooks for your personal and professional development.
mailto:sdunn@susandunn.cc for free ezine.
I train and certify EQ coaches. Email for info on fast,
affordable, comprehensive, no-residency program. Start
immediately. Great for building a practice.
Source: http://www.isnare.com
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