27th Annual Wendish Fest Schedule of Events

Featured entertainment this year will be the German-Sorbian Volkstheatre Bautzen and LaGrange High School German Club performing on stage following the Live Auction!

Each year the Texas Wendish Heritage Society host a festival on the fourth Sunday in September. This years event will be on September 27. Events are scheduled throughout the day beginning with the church services at St. Paul Lutheran Church.


St. Paul Lutheran Church

One of the Painted Churches of Texas.

English Church Service … 8:30
German Church Service … 10:30

  • Rev. Dr. Curtis P. Giese, Professor of Religion, Humanities Division Chair, Concordia University, Texas
  • Rev. John Schmidt, Pastor St. Paul Lutheran Church

Church Tours … 12:30 to 2:30

Picnic Grounds

Noon Meal ticket sales … 9:45 (meal served until 1:30)

Sausage • Sauerkraut • Green Beans • Wendish Noodles • Beets • Peaches • Homemade Bread
Desserts purchased separately

Coffee or Tea

Adults $9.00 ♦ Children $4.00 ♦ Take-out plates $9.00

Snack Booths Open … 2:00

Sausage & Sauerkraut Boats & Wraps
Drumsticks, Noodles & Desserts

Pavillion

Music All Day!

Coffee Cake Bake-off

Deadline for entries … 10:30 (Coffee-cake Bake-off)
Winners Announced… 12:30
Live Auction … 2:00
Bid on winning coffee cake entries!!! Auction proceeds designated for Texas Wendish Heritage Scholarship Fund.

Noodle Making … 2:00
Sausage Stuffing … 2:30
Wine Making … 3:00


Entertainment

LaGrange High School German Club
Folk Dancing & German Band

German-Sorbian Volkstheatre Bautzen
German-Sorbian-English Puppet Play Cowboy Tom
Sorbian Theatre Band Floppy Dolls

Exhibits & Demonstrations

Kilian Building & St. Paul Building

Wendish Easter egg decorating • Quilting • Lace Making … 10:00 – 3:00

Traditional Sorbian Festival Attire • Rope Making


Special Guests

Förderkreis für Sorbische Volkskultur
Easter Egg Decorating Demonstrations & Lessons
Traditional Sorbian Attire Demonstration

Special Presentation

Presentation of an award winning collection of Sorbian Decorated Eggs will be made by the Sorbian Association of Culture to the Texas Wendish Heritage Museum.

Picnic Grounds

Spinning • Stone Ground Corn Meal • 1918 Stone Grist Mill • Homemade Soap • Sauerkraut Making • Noodle Making • Wine Making • Sausage Stuffing • Blacksmithing • 1926 Fire Truck • Vintage Farm Equipment • Classic Autos


Silent Auction … 10:00 to 2:30

Washer Pitching Contest … 2:00 (Sign-up … 1:30 sharp)

Cross-cut Saw Contest … 4:45

Texas Wendish Heritage Country Store
Circle Drive at Museum


Childrens Activities

  • Stick Horse Races … 1:00
  • Coloring Contest … 1:30
  • Greased Pole Climbing (Kletternpfosten) … TBA
  • Face painting … 1:30 to 4:00
  • Train Rides by SLCVFD … about 2:00
  • Bounce House by Thrivent

Twenty-Seven Years in Review

A special exhibit in reflection of 27 years of Wendish Fest celebrations will be on display. Please take time to view the exhibit, share past memories and make new ones during the 27th annual Wendish Fest!


The Museum Complex

The Museum Complex will be open from 10:00 until 5:00.

Peter Building

  • General help and Information
  • Library
  • Genealogy

St. Paul Building (North side of the Courtyard)

Permanent Exhibits

Thank You

The Texas Wendish Heritage Society gratefully acknowledges the continued support received from TWHS members who are from seven countries and forty-one states plus the District of Columbia.

Additional THANKS is extended to St. Paul Lutheran, the local community, City of Giddings, Giddings Area Chamber of Commerce, sponsors and volunteers for Wendish Fest.

10 Responses

  1. Bill "Cowboy" Lamza says:

    Is this festival also considered a “Sauerkraut” festival that I heard about?

    • Director says:

      Wendish Fest is a Heritage Festival celebrating the Wends who came to Texas in 1854 in search of freedom from religious, economic and social oppression.
      Our festival includes exhibits and demonstrations of Wendish folkways and traditions, one of which is sauerkraut, which will be available in one of the vendor booths. Sauerkraut is also served as part of the traditional noon meal (tickets $9.00) and in the afternoon snack booth.
      Thank you!

  2. Sara says:

    Can I purchase any of the Sorbian decorated eggs at the festival?

  3. Harold F. Klaus Jr. ("Jim") says:

    Please steer me toward a nice B&B or motel/hotel in the area. I would like to stay in the area for a couple of nights and attend the festival. If you would give me the address, I would like to contribute to the museum as a member.

    We will be visiting friends in the Luling, TX area before or after the festival.

    I am a Mo Synod Lutheran, and attended Valparaiso University my freshman year in college.

    I grew up in Perry County, MO about 10 miles from Altenburg in Farrar, MO. Attended German services regularly as a small boy. Even the parochial school classes were in German then, but I have lost my ability to understand German as an adult. My family immigrated in 1848 to Wittenburg, and later moved to Brazeau and eventually to Farrar, MO.

    The length of our visit will depend on your advice about how long it will require to see and experience the local Wendish traditions and points of interest without a hurried rush.

    Please respond by e-mail to klausjim09@gmail.com, txt to 575-706-2700, mail to 204 E. Church Street Carlsbad,NM 88220, or by calling the -2700 number.

    Thanks so much!

    Oh, by the way, is gritselwurst (oatmeal sausage) available locally?

  4. Harold F. Klaus Jr. ("Jim") says:

    I am a little confused as to the date of the 2016 festival. Please let me know. Thanks

    • Director says:

      Wendish Fest is always the fourth Sunday in September.
      This year’s date is September 25, 2016.
      Thank you!

  5. Kathy says:

    I don’t see a location for the festival,please advise Thanks!

    • Director says:

      Wendish Fest is hosted in Serbin, Texas at the Wendish Museum and St. Paul Lutheran picnic grounds.
      Hope you will join us!