The 65th annual Wurstfest opens Friday, Nov. 6, with gates opening at 4 p.m. Alex Meixner will lead the opening ceremony, which includes the ceremonial tapping of the keg and biting of the sausage.
The festival will offer more than 250 performances on five stages, along with sausage demonstrations, wine talks, a carnival, children's activities in the kinderhalle, shopping and German food. A new event this year is the St. Martin's Day Lantern Parade, which begins at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 11. Children of all ages may take part. Lanterns can be made or bought at the kinderhalle or at the German-Texan Heritage Society booth.
Wine offerings will expand this year to a new Weingarten inside the hydroplant. Cheese pairings from Otto's Cheese Shop will also be available. Wurstfest is cashless this year. Some vendors accept cash, but admission and bar purchases cannot be paid in cash.
Advance tickets cost $15 each on Fridays and Sundays and $25 each on Saturdays. Gate tickets cost $20 on Fridays and Sundays and $30 on Saturdays. Admission is free Monday through Thursday and after 3 p.m. on Sunday, Nov. 15. Tickets are valid all day, and hands are stamped so attendees can leave and return. The festival will proceed rain or shine. More information is at wurstfest.com.