On Nov. 7-16, Wurstfest will attract 240,000 people from across the country and around the globe. The festival—founded in 1961—not only showcases the area's rich German history, but also focuses on charity and scholarship, Wurstfest President Keith Westerfer said.
Digging deeper
Wurstfest has about 20 to 24 nonprofit organizations attend the festival.
“It’s incredible, the amount of support they receive just within 10 days,” Wersterfer said.
A few of the nonprofit attending Wurstfest this year include the:
- New Braunfels Fire Fighters Association
- Rotary Club of New Braunfels
- Comal County Junior Livestock Association
- New Braunfels Elks Lodge
- New Braunfels Jaycees
- Comal County Senior Citizens Center
- New Braunfels Conservation Society
“We sent $51,000 to 15 different high school seniors in four high schools this year,” Wersterfer said.
The festival's administration held a silent auction event earlier this year and raised $29,000 that was donated directly to the New Braunfels Youth Collaborative. The focus on education and youth is something that Wersterfer says is “an investment to the future of our community.”
In addition to nonprofit support and live music, Wurstfest also features a large selection of local and international food vendors—this year, there will be about 42 food vendors in attendance.
“You’re going to experience a lot of authentic German food like potato pancakes and sausage on a stick,” Wersterfer said.
This year, the festival will feature a new pavilion for live German music and food—called the Wasserplatz—which will replace a tent that is normally situated in front of Bar 5, near Landa Park Drive.
“We want to improve the grounds as much as we can, but we also want to preserve its mystique,” he said.
Quote of note
Wersterfer said the festival has over 300 volunteers that contribute 3,000 hours of community service.
“We all do it for the love of the association and the love of the community," he said.
- Wurstfest Grounds, 178 Landa Park Drive, New Braunfels
- www.wurstfest.com
