We are on our way to the 52nd annual Wurstfest.
New Braunfels, Texas has a long history of sausage. The town was established in 1845 by Prince Carl of Solms-Braunfels. At the urging of the nobleman, many Germans immigrated to this growing city on the Comal and Guadalupe Rivers. The Comal from Comal Springs to the Guadaupe is only three miles long as its spring-fed waters wind through the town. For its length, the Comal River has the distinction of being one of the shortest rivers in the world. The river may be short, but one thing the city and citizens are not short of are sausages. They love to eat them, they love to share them, and they love a party with good German music and wursts for all.
From Old High German, wurst is the word for sausage.
In 1961, the Mayor of New Braunfels proclaimed the first “Sausage Festival,” a week activity featuring sausages at cafes and markets. With world-wide publicity, that first feastival attracted 2,000 visitors. It was a meaty success. The name has changed from Sausage Festival to Wurst Week and now WURSTFEST, but one thing as not changed, the wursts. They remain the wurst of the best.
In 1966, 35,000 attended and consumed over five tons of sausages. In 1969, 75,000 revelers besieged the sausage capitol of Texas. The vendors of links became even more creative with Wurst Tacos and Wurst-ka-bobs. In 1978, the German-American eat-o-rama was as one of the top attractions in the world for the month of November. In 1987, the WURSTFEST was rated in the top 100 events in North America by the American Bus Association.
People were driving from everywhere to grab a sausage on stick and a whole lot of fun. In 2006, ABC’s Good Morning America TV show showcased the opening day for millions of viewers across the world. In 2007, a special entertainment area for children, Kinderhalle, was introduced, reflecting that the event is a family-oriented festivity for everyone. November 7, 2009 was the most-attended day yet, except for today or maybe tomorrow.
Go Wurst!
We’re on our way.
Save a sausage for us.
We’re on the road and almost there.
Grandpa Jim and Mary