In 1961, a veterinarian and city meat inspector named Ed Grist wanted to celebrate the sausage makers in New Braunfels, Texas. This led to the first Sausage Festival, which attracted around 2,000 attendees. In the following week, local cafes, meat markets, and grocery stores featured products from local sausage makers, creating a buzz in the community.
The event quickly evolved from the Sausage Festival to Wurst Week, and eventually became known as Wurstfest. As the years passed, the festival outgrew its original downtown location, moving to Landa Park along the Comal River, where it now occupies the Wursthalle. Today, Wurstfest is a massive 10-day celebration that welcomes over 230,000 visitors each year.
Marc Allen, the president of this year’s Wurstfest, emphasizes that while many details have changed, the focus on New Braunfels’ German heritage and community support remains strong. “I think Ed Grist would be extremely proud of how we never lost sight of what he started,” Allen remarked. “We’re not just putting on a festival; we’re preserving a piece of New Braunfels’ history.”
This year marks the 65th Wurstfest, where attendees can indulge in delicious German-inspired food and drink, enjoy live music, dance, and engage in family activities. Sausage making continues to be an essential part of the festival, along with cherished traditions like the opening ceremony and the ceremonial “biting of the sausage.”
For Allen, the growth of Wurstfest is significant because it supports local businesses. “Our mission has remained the same: promote our local economy through tourism while preserving and celebrating our German heritage,” he explained. Tourists who visit for Wurstfest contribute to the local economy by staying in hotels, dining in restaurants, shopping in stores, and experiencing all that New Braunfels has to offer. The economic impact extends far beyond the festival grounds.
Wurstfest General Chairman Darren Hill, President Marc Allen and Grosse Opa Jim Hill in front of Wursthalle. (Wurstfest.)
A festival built with the community
Wurstfest plays a vital role in the community through its food and merchandise booths, with more than 25 local nonprofit organizations selling food, drinks, and goods during the festival. Other groups benefit by providing parking or assisting with traffic direction.
According to Allen, Wurstfest provides the venue, infrastructure, entertainment, and thousands of visitors, while local organizations bring their volunteers, recipes, and traditions. For many of these groups, the 10 days of Wurstfest can provide a significant portion of their annual funding.
“Operating concessions and other fundraising activities during Wurstfest have been a part of tradition for generations,” he stated. “The money that they earn goes right back into our community.” This funding supports various initiatives, from scholarships and youth programs to civic improvements and charitable services.
“When someone buys a potato pancake or sausage on a stick or any other festival favorite, they may not realize that they’re supporting local organizations that do work throughout the year,” Allen noted. “The success of Wurstfest isn’t just measured by attendance or revenue. It’s also measured by how many organizations benefit.”
Wurstfest at Landa Park. (Wurstfest.)
Turning tradition into lasting support
Wurstfest is also enhancing its support for the community through direct giving. In 2026, it established a donations committee and partnered with the New Braunfels Community Foundation to create a system for reviewing grant requests and supporting long-term charitable giving.
This year, Wurstfest contributed $1 million to the foundation, with two-thirds of that amount being distributed directly to nonprofits by the end of the year. The remaining funds are being placed in an endowment to support future community giving.
Allen highlighted the festival’s commitment to the community, stating, “We’ve
