It's a big-time old German tradition nestled in the Texas Hill Country: Thousands of people pour into New Braunfels for Wurstfest every fall.
Festival-goer Bobby Moraleswas lookingfor a chicken hat whenwe caught up with him:
We have a lot of family in New Braunfels. We come every year for the great atmosphere, music and food, he said. You know, the Germans and the Mexicans have a lot in common because they play the accordion. The music sounds similar to our music. We feel right at home here.
Mary Sue Morales agreed.
We met people for Germany, Japan and Ohio tonightand ate pretty good, she said. You can have anything on a stick. Ilove thefood -- especially the bratwurst and sauerkraut.
Darrell Sollberger was running around like a chicken handing out pins. He's the Grosse OPA with the Wurstfest organization. He says it's his job to make sure everyone has a good time.
I make sure festival-goers are happy. There is so much to enjoy, he said. We have sausage on the stick, turkey legs, bratwurst, wild wings, German plate dinners (and)funnel cakes. It's great for the little ones, too. Children can experience the carnival rides.
My German heritage is from the German part of Switzerland. Maybe that'swhat isdeep in my bones that I feel it and enjoy this type of music.
Weighed down in festival pins from all over the world, Sollberger said the 50th edition of Wurstfest in New Braunfels is one of a kind:
Ed Grist was a meat inspector and a veterinarian, and in order to encourage tourists in New Braunfels in 1961 in the off-season from summer, he started a celebration of sausage -- a one-day festival, Sollberger said. We now run 10 days and have over 120,000 people. Folks come from all over the world.
Iam German tonight, says Mike Guerra, who donned a sausage hat. I come every year on the opening night. You get to meet a lot interesting peopleandget to dothe chicken dance. Iwas in Germany for eight years working in the Air Force, and it brings back memories. I have been coming to the festival with my wife every year since 1996.
Wurstfest wraps up this Sunday. The 10-day fest is openweekdays at 5 p.m. and Saturday and Sunday at 11 am. Wurstfest closes at 10 p.m. Wednesday, midnightThursday and Friday, 1 a.m. Saturday night and 10 p.m. on the final Sunday.
Festival admission is $8. Children 12 and under are free.For more information, visit wurstfest.com.
