Wein and Saengerfest will stir your senses while uncorking good spirits. The full day festival hosts a variety of wines for sampling from Texas vineyards along with several German selections. For $15, you receive a commemorative wine glass and five tasting tickets to sample some of the best wines Texas has to offer. Texas wineries providing three varieties each for sampling include: Dry Comal Creek Vineyards, Dioniso Winery, Llano Estacado Winery, Los Pinos Ranch Vineyards, Red 55, Texas Mead Works, Duchman, McPherson, Copper Star Cellars, Fiesta Vineyards, Fall Creek, Becker Vineyards, Messina Hof, and Water 2 Wine. Samples from these wineries and more will be offered in tents manned by volunteers from local organizations and businesses.
If a particular wine strikes a chord with you, attendees have the opportunity to purchase a signature bottle at the wine market hosted by the New Braunfels Parks Foundation. Proceeds from the market and wine tasting will contribute to future preservation and enhancements of downtown parks including the New Braunfels Market Plaza.
If beer suites your taste buds better, try one of many craft beer samples at the Craft Bier Garten brought to you by the New Braunfels Downtown Association. Selections from Texas brewing companies include: Karbach-Houston, Big Bend-Alpine, Guadalupe – New Braunfels, Uncle Billy’s – Austin, Twisted X – Dripping Springs, Freetail – San Antonio, Pedernales-Fredericksburg, and Seguin Brewing Company-Seguin.
Live entertainment is scheduled all day long on multiple stages. This year’s entertainment lineup includes – Kori Free & The Groove Hounds, Seth James & Jessica Murray and The Night Owls culminating with a street dance at 7:30 p.m. featuring Shinyribs.
Take time to stroll through Marketplatz and visit amazing displays from some of the most unique artisan vendors in the state. Merchants compete for honors in several categories in the Juried Art Show. A great variety of food truck vendors will also be on hand with festival treats to tantalize your taste buds.
Catch a session at WeinStein University – featuring talented local presenters with information on wine, craft beer and cooking demonstrations and presentations such as: Craft Beer 101, Wine & Pizza Pairing, Craft Beer Seminar, Craft Beer & Food Pairing and win participant prizes The Wine & Beer Challenge.
Don’t miss the Chef Showdown, a Wein & Saengerfest favorite. Watch amateur chef teams face off over the grills to see who will ultimately win the championship by creating mouthwatering dishes before your eyes from a “mystery basket” of ingredients. With celebrity judge, Chef Brad Sorenson, chef and owner of award winning restaurant, NO VA on Rainey Street in Austin. Brad was cast for season six of The Next Food Network Star and Food Network’s Chopped All Stars competition where he was a finalist for both.
Festivities begin in the family activities area with the traditional Kindermasken Parade. Kids of ALL ages can play life-sized games like 9-Pin bowling, Jenga™ and checkers and enjoy squishing grapes between your toes at the Grape Stomp hosted by CIMA Hospice. The New Braunfels Railroad Museum will be hosting fun train themed activities while presentations from the Lindheimer Master Naturalists and Community Emergency Response Team are offered for everyone’s enjoyment.
The 13th Annual Wein & Saengerfest will kick off at noon in historic downtown New Braunfels on Saturday, May 7, 2016. For more information about this New Braunfels tradition visit www.weinandsaengerfest.com
