Wurstfest In New Braunfels Celebrates German Culture With New Craft Biergarten, Masskrugstemmen And Jimmy Sturr

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Nov 12, 2014, 12:10 ET

NEW BRAUNFELS, Texas, Nov. 12, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- Wurstfest in New Braunfels opened with a traditional "First Bite" of the sausage ribbon kicking off a party that continues through Sunday, November 16.

The new Steltzenplatz Marktplatz and Craft Biergarten introduce craft beer and expand the Wurstfest Marktplatz. Small breweries from all over Texas and the rest of the country, including two from New Braunfels, supply the handcrafted specialty beer. A fifth music stage located in the Biergarten offers another venue for enjoying the 40+ national and international live music acts.

Wurstfest is a unique annual celebration rich in German culture located in New Braunfels in the Texas Hill Country. It features traditional German food, music, dancing, exhibits, games and a carnival. In addition to German and domestic beer, a new craft biergarten features handcrafted beer from local brewers and brewers across the country. Thousands attend each year to enjoy Alpine and Bavarian entertainment at Wurstfest, which began in 1961 to promote locally made sausage and smoked meats.

Wurstfest in New Braunfels, Texas, continues through Sunday, November 16, and features craft beer tasting, Masskrugstemmen (stein holding contests) and Grammy winner Jimmy Sturr. Next year’s Wurstfest, one of the largest German cultural festivals in the U.S., will be held November 6-14, 2015.

Music truly is the heartbeat of the festival and getting it all off to a great start in Wursthalle was the Alex Meixner Band, followed by The Jodie Mikula Orchestra and The Klaberheads. Wursthalle was only the beginning, however. In Das Grosse Zelt attendees danced to Spitze! and the Alex Meixner Band. In Das Kleine Zelt, Bahn and Die Bayrische 7 (direct from Germany) entertained the crowd. Over at the Stelzenhaus, Ennis Czech Boys, Mark Halata & Texavia, The Chardon Polka Band and Terry Cavanagh & Alpine Express kept everyone dancing. Check out the schedule for who's playing this week. Jimmy Sturr, who has won 18 Grammys for his outstanding polka music will close out the celebration this weekend.

Masskrugstemmen (literally, "beer-stein holding") competitions are also new to Wurstfest this year. In these traditional Bavarian endurance contests participants must hold a one-liter stein of beer in one outstretched arm for as long as possible. The filled stein weighs roughly five pounds and must be kept parallel to the ground at all times – any spilling leads to immediate disqualification! Recently, Wurstfest Opa Jason Hurta won the National Masskrugstemmen Championship in New York City with a winning time of 14 minutes and 2 seconds.

Other Wurstfest events throughout the city and county make the festival a great opportunity to explore the Texas Hill Country as well as the German culture of New Braunfels.

When you go:

Admission and refreshments tickets can be purchased in advance online or via smart phone. Next year Wurstfest celebrates November 6-14, 2015. Bookmark www.wurstfest.com and www.innewbraunfels.com and make your reservations.

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SOURCE Wurstfest Association