The Wurst is Yet to Come

Sausage and beer extravaganza Wurstfest returns to New Braunfels for 2024

Wurstfest returns for its 63rd year this November.

Photo courtesy of Wurstfest

German culture is on display in many subtle ways throughout Texas' historic towns; Wurstfest is not one of those ways. This oompah-driven, battered-and-fried, lederhosen-clad beer and sausage festival is coming back to New Braunfels for its annual festivities November 1-10.

This is the 63rd year for the Hill Country festival, which takes place on a German-style compound with an exhibition hall, rows upon rows of fair food stalls, imported beers on tap, sausage making stations, children's carnival rides, traditional costumes, and other artisan goods. (More than 20 nonprofits benefit from theses sales.) Since many revelers stay all day, a robust entertainment lineup keeps things fresh on five stages as the beer continues to flow.

Wustfest New Braunfels aerial The Wurstfest grounds expect to see more than 200,000 visitors over the 10-day festival.Photo courtesy of Wurstfest

More than 40 bands, many of whom are visiting from other cities and countries, will play more than 250 sets. They include:

Grammy-award winning polka musician Jimmy Sturr and his Orchestra
New Braunfels' own Grammy-nominated accordionist Alex Meixner
Germany's Munchholzhauser Blaskapella
New York's Die Schlauberger
International Polka Association's 2019 International Band of the Year, Squeezebox with Mollie B

Although some of these sets do begin to blend together when treated as background music, there is plenty of variety between the bands and genres. The rousing oompah genre is probably what most people think of for a German festival, but there will also be polka (more Czech, while oompah bands are more Bavarian), yodeling, and gentler waltzes.

“Music has been an integral part of the Wurstfest celebration since its inception in 1961,” said 2024 Wurstfest President Sherman Krause. “Whether its oompah, polka, yodeling or a waltz, they are classic German genres that get people out onto the dance floor, swaying in their seats and cheering and singing along with the bands."

Alex Meixner at Wurstfest Alex Meixner is a regular at Wurstfest.Photo courtesy of Wurstfest

A band is scheduled to play every hour of the festival on alternating stages. The full lineup is available at wurstfest.com. Alex Meixner and Mollie B and Squeezebox will get the festival going with the customary “biting of the sausage,” like a ribbon-cutting where people all simultaneously take their first bite of a long string of sausages.

Tickets are available online ($18-20) through October 31. Then they'll be available at the gate ($22.50-25). Admission is free Mondays through Thursdays, and certain other days are free or include a second day using coupons from the official website. Operating hours are Mondays through Thursdays from 5-10 pm, Fridays from 5-11 pm, Saturdays from 11 am to midnight, and Sundays from 11 am to 10 pm.

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Better Days, Same Burgers

Shuttered San Antonio burger joint stages surprising comeback

Teddy B's/Facebook

Teddy B's has made a surprise comeback.

Like sands through the hourglass, so are the days of Teddy B's life. In October, the popular burger joint shuttered its decade-old location on Babcock Road, grieving a loss of foot traffic and rising costs. On November 20, the spot revealed a plot twist. The owners are now slinging patties at 9903 Fredericksburg Rd.

"Dear Teddy B's customers, we have good news," the restaurant posted on social media. "We are back in business...We are waiting for our new sign, but we are up and running."

The unexpected comeback is the culmination of a tumultuous year for the business. As the restaurant marked its 10-year milestone this summer, the outlook was much darker. On August 4, the restaurant took to social media to warn that closure could be imminent. A traffic decline affected Teddy B's ability to maintain its affordable price point.

The messaging worked, at least in the short term. Days later, the restaurant reported an increase in business. The marketing language was hopeful until October 13, when the restaurant abruptly announced it was closing for good.

The news of Teddy B's rebirth came just as suddenly. After a month-long social media silence, the restaurant announced it had taken over the former home of Burger Haven. The latter restaurant was little known, appearing to operate mainly as a ghost kitchen.

Assumably, burgers will be back on the menu, but it is unclear whether other favorites will be eliminated to streamline the operation. The business has not posted any revisions, and its website is down at press time.

The burger joint's comeback manifests as other shuttered legacy restaurants like The Lion and Rose and Fratello's have staged their own returns. While Teddy B's has offered no reasoning for getting back into the game, it is a testament to the resiliency of San Antonio's culinary community.

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