The Wurst Week is the Best Week!
New Braunfels has a November appointment with sausage and a dance floor. Wurstfest returns November 6–15, giving locals ten days to practice their polka, revisit familiar traditions and reconsider the wisdom of eating before arriving.
Now in its 65th year, Wurstfest brings German and Texan culture together beside the Comal River. Wursthalle and the surrounding grounds fill with music, dancing, food, beer and carnival diversions. The combination works across generations: children get their own entertainment, adults get another turn around the floor, and everyone gets hungry.
First-timers should catch the opening ceremonies November 6 at 5:30 p.m. in Wursthalle, featuring Alex Meixner, the sausage bite and keg tapping. The entertainment schedule also lists the Alex Meixner Band in Grosse Zelt at 6:25 p.m. that evening. Arrive for the ceremony, then let the music steer.
Pick your kind of visit
Weekend gates open at 11 a.m., making daytime visits easier to fit around children’s bedtimes. Kinderhalle’s programming includes bubble shows, puppet entertainment and library readings, with carnival rides and games adding options beyond the dance floor. Saturdays continue until midnight; Sundays close at 10 p.m.
Weeknights offer a shorter outing and free admission November 9–12, starting at 5 p.m. Monday through Wednesday close at 10 p.m.; Thursday closes at 11 p.m. Children 12 and younger enter free daily, and admission becomes free after 3 p.m. November 15.
For paid days, advance tickets cost $15 on Fridays and Sundays or $25 on Saturdays, compared with $20 and $30 at the gate. Download or print admission before arriving. Opening Friday runs 4–11 p.m.; November 13 runs 5–11 p.m.
Save the energy for dancing
Nearby parking is limited. The official Park ’N Ride shuttle operates daily from Comal County Fairgrounds, 701 Common Street. Parking is free; shuttle tickets cost $10 for ages 13 and older, with younger children riding free. Festival admission is separate.
Bring cash for food vendors; bars accept cards, Apple Pay and Google Pay. Bags are searched, and entrances have metal detectors. Leave outside food, drinks, coolers, chairs and pets home; trained service animals are permitted.
The grounds are accessible, with accessible parking at the Knights of Columbus and Lions Club lots across from Gate 1.
That preparation leaves room for the tradition itself: a meal, familiar music and the pleasant possibility that someone will persuade you to dance.
Find more reasons to celebrate in the Guide to Texas festival directory: https://www.guidetotx.com/festivals
