Wendish Fest 2024 – Know Before You Go

The Texas Wendish Heritage Society invites you to join us at the 36th Annual Wendish Fest on Sunday, September 22, 2024. Wendish Fest is an annual day of celebrating Wendish history and culture through folklife exhibits, unique cultural activities, delicious food, demonstrations, and live music. The festival is outdoors at the Serbin picnic grounds and includes self-guided museum and scheduled church tours. Check out our know before you go information below so you can plan your trip accordingly. If you have any questions during the festival, stop by the information booth by the beer booth. Maps can be found posted around the picnic grounds and at the information booth.

What to Know Before You Go:

• When is the Wendish Fest? Wendish Fest is always the fourth Sunday in September! This year it takes place on Sunday, September 22, 2024. The festival begins at 10:00 and ends at 5:00.
• Where is the Wendish Fest? Wendish Fest is in Serbin, Texas at the Texas Wendish Heritage Museum and St. Paul Lutheran Church’s picnic grounds. The museum is located 6 miles away from downtown Giddings. We recommend typing in the Texas Wendish Heritage Museum’s address to your GPS to easily find the Serbin picnic grounds. The museum address is 1011 County Road 212, Giddings, TX 78942.
• How much does it cost? Wendish Fest is free! Lunch meal tickets are $15 per person. Lunch meal tickets can only be purchased at the festival, no presale tickets are available. We accept cash and credit card payments. Beer is donation based so make sure to bring cash.
• When is lunch served, how much is a meal ticket, and what all is included in the lunch meal ticket? If you want a to-go plate, there is a drive-thru meal line and walk-up line that opens at 9:30 AM. If you plan on eating on site, the self-serve line in the pavilion opens at 10:30 AM after the prayer. Lunch meal tickets can only be purchased in the lines, no presale tickets are available. Plates are $15 and include sausage, Wendish noodles, green beans, sauerkraut, beets, peaches, homemade bread, water, coffee, and tea. The dessert booth in the pavilion opens at 10:00 and features our famous Wendish Coffee Cake. Kids plates are $6. Desserts, water, tea, and sodas are $1. Additional food and refreshments can be purchased at the snack booth at 2:00.
• Are outside drinks allowed? No outside alcoholic beverages are allowed. The Beer Booth and Busted Oak Cellars Winery will be open at 11:00. Water, soda, and iced tea will be available for purchase.
• Is this a family friendly festival? This is an all-ages event, and we highly encourage families to attend as there are plenty of actives planned for people of all ages.
• What can I bring to the festival? Backpacks, strollers, cameras, lawn/foldable chairs, blankets for a picnic, and if you plan on drinking make sure to bring a valid ID.
• How can my family reserve an area on the picnic grounds for our large family get together? If you plan on bringing picnic tables and chairs and are expecting many family members to attend, please contact the museum at museum@texaswendish.org so we can arrange a space for your family reunion. We want to guarantee that our vendors, demonstrators, and attendees have plenty of space to set up at the picnic grounds.
• How accessible is the Wendish Fest? The festival is committed to providing an accessible and inclusive environment for everyone. We have wheelchair ramps and accessible restrooms at the museum. Service animals are allowed at the event. The festival is located at an outdoor picnic ground, if you have any questions about accessibility contact museum@texaswendish.org.
• What if I become ill at the festival? A first aid station is located at the festival grounds. If you, or a friend, feel ill for any reason whatsoever, immediately check in with the first aid crew on site. The festival will take place outside so be sure to stay hydrated, sit in the shade, get a Wendish Fest fan, and enjoy the air conditioning inside the museum.
• How can I enter the Coffee Cake Bake-Off? The deadline to enter the Coffee Cake Bake-Off is at 10:30 and entries need to be dropped off at the dessert booth in the pavilion. Winners will be announced at 12:30 from the stage. Click here to check out the entry rules.
• When does the live Coffee Cake Auction begin? Where do the proceeds go? The bidding will begin at 12:45 in the pavilion. Auction proceeds benefit the Texas Wendish Heritage Society’s Scholarship Program. The scholarship program supports Wendish students while helping them connect to their Wendish heritage, history, genealogy, and culture. Since 2014, more than $48,000 has been given to the Texas Wendish Heritage Society scholarship recipients.
• How can I donate an item for the silent auction? You can either bring it to the museum on the day of Wendish Fest or drop it off at the museum before September 22 during operating hours. If you are local and want the director to pick it up before the festival, email museum@texaswendish.org.
• When is the museum open? The museum will have free admission during the festival and is open from 10:00–3:00. The museum complex grounds are open until 5:00 when the festival ends.
• When are the worship services and tours at St. Paul Lutheran Church? All are welcome to attend worship services on the day of the Wendish Fest. Pastor Schmidt and Rev. Bernie Schey will start the English service at 8:30, followed by Bible class at 9:30. Rev. Obersat will begin the German service at 10:30. Church history tours will be held at 12:30 and 1:30.
• How do I become a Texas Wendish Heritage Society Member? You can either buy a membership at the museum during the festival or buy a membership online by clicking here.
• How can I volunteer at the Wendish Fest? If you are interested in volunteering, you can sign up here.  
• Can I take pictures and videos at the Wendish Fest? Yes, we encourage it! If you have any photos or videos you would like to share after the event, email marketing@texaswendish.org.
• Where can I buy a bag of uncooked Wendish noodles? In the circular driveway outside the museum is where you can purchase bags of noodles.
• Where can I buy a decorated Wendish egg? In the Kilian Building at the museum complex.
• What are the museum’s normal operating hours? The museum is open Tuesday through Saturday from 1:00–5:00. The museum is closed on Sunday, Monday, and public holidays. Admission is $5 per person and kids under 12 as well as Texas Wendish Heritage Society Members are free. Contact museum@texaswendish.org or (979) 366-2441 to book a tour.

Wendish Fest Schedule

9:30am Drive-Thru Meal Line Opens

10:00am-2:00pm Silent Auction

10:00am-3:00pm Exhibits & Demonstrations

10:00am-3:00pm Texas Wendish Heritage Museum Open

10:30am Coffee Cake Bake-Off Entry Deadline, Meal Announcements & Prayer, Meal Line and Refreshments Open

11:30am Ptači Kwas: Bird Wedding presented by St. Paul Lutheran Students

12:15pm Announcement of TWHS Scholarship Recipients

12:30pm Coffee Cake Bake-Off Winners, St. Paul Lutheran Church Tour

12:45pm Live Coffee Cake Auction

1:00pm-4:00pm Live music from Jodie Mikula Orchestra

1:00pm Children’s Stick Horse Races, Wendish Noodle Making Demo

1:30pm Children’s Coloring Contest, Kletternpfosten (Greased Pole Climbing), St. Paul Lutheran Church Tour

2:00pm Coloring Contest Winners Announced, SLCVFD Train Rides, Snack Booth Opens, Sausage Stuffing Demo

3:00pm Washer Pitching (Sign Up at 2:30), Wine Making Demo

4:45pm Cross-Cut Sawing Demonstration

5:00pm Wendish Festival Ends

Vendors and Demonstrations

Wendish Easter Egg Decorating, Wendish Noodle Making, Sausage Stuffing, Wine Making, Stone-Ground Cornmeal – 1918 Gristmill, Balcones Forge Blacksmith Demonstrations, Vintage Farming Equipment, Handmade Soap, Civil War Living History Presentation by Jon Moerbe, Hand-Quilting, German Wooden Christmas Crafts by Wiederhold Works, Jams and Pickles, Fedor Mercantile, Vintage Fire Equipment, and more.

Wendish Demonstration Tent – Wendish Noodle Making 1:00, Sausage Stuffing 2:00, Wine Making 3:00.

St. Paul Lutheran Church & School Table – Show your support for the Serbin school by purchasing school spirit items and some delicious popcorn from the booth.

Faith Lutheran High School of Central Texas Table – Visit the booth to learn more about this amazing local high school and support their mission by purchasing a refreshing snow cone.

Wendish Fest Map

Where should I stay during the Wendish Fest? The museum is located six miles from downtown Giddings and receives support from the local Hotel/Motel taxes for this event. We encourage you to book your stay with one of our hotel partners listed below.

Americas Best Value Inn Giddings – (979) 542-3111

Best Western – (979) 542-5000

Budget Inn – (979) 542-3839

Giddings Executive Inn – (979) 542-5791

Rainbow House Bed & Breakfast – (979) 542-0601

Super 8 – (979) 542-9666

Thank You!

The Texas Wendish Heritage Society sincerely wants to thank our members and volunteers for their dedicated support, which ensures the success of the Wendish Fest each year. Additionally, we would like to thank St. Paul Lutheran Church & School, the Serbin community, the City of Giddings, the Lee County community, and all our amazing sponsors!