Plan your visit to the 37th Annual Wendish Fest

The Texas Wendish Heritage Society invites you to join us at the 37th Annual Wendish Fest on Sunday, September 28, 2025. Wendish Fest is an annual day of celebrating Wendish history and culture through folklife exhibits, unique cultural activities, delicious food, demonstrations, and live polka music. The festival is outdoors at the Serbin picnic grounds and includes self-guided museum and scheduled church tours. Check out the schedule of events and the know before you go information below so you can plan your trip accordingly.

We will be giving away a few bags of noodles and meal tickets prior to the festival on social media. Follow us on our TWHS Facebook Page and Wendish Fest Facebook Page for Wendish Fest Giveaways!

If your business is interested in sponsoring or becoming a vendor at the 37th Annual Wendish Fest, email: museum@texaswendish.org or call (979) 366-2441. Check out the 2025 Wendish Fest sponsorship opportunities here.

Wendish Fest – 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 28, 2025. The festival begins at 10:00am and ends at 5:00pm.
• 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 9:30am. If you plan on eating on site, the self-serve line in the pavilion opens at 10:30am 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 10:00am and features our famous Wendish Coffee Cake. Kids plates are $6. Desserts are $2 and water, tea, and sodas are $1. Additional food and refreshments can be purchased at the snack booth at 2:00pm.
• Are outside drinks allowed? No outside alcoholic beverages are allowed.
• 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 10:30am and entries need to be dropped off at the dessert booth in the pavilion. Winners will be announced at 12:30pm from the stage. Click here to check out the rules.
• When does the live Coffee Cake Auction begin? Where do the proceeds go? The bidding will begin at 12:45pm 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.
• 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 28 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 10:00am–3:00pm. The museum complex grounds are open until 5:00pm 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. Guest speakers for the 8:30am English Church Service and the 10:30am German Church Service will be Pastor Roland Ziegler, Pastor John Schmidt (English Liturgy), and Pastor Christopher Ahlman (German Liturgy). Bible class is at 9:30am. Church history tours will be held at 12:30pm and 1:30pm.
• 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.

Plan your weekend in Giddings

If you are planning to visit Giddings for the weekend, check out the City of Giddings website which has a list of local accomodations, attractions, and popular eateries. 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 partners listed below.

Americas Best Value Inn Giddings – Reserve a room online

1600 E. Austin Street
Giddings, TX 78942
(979) 542-3111

Best Western – Reserve a room online

2161 E. Hempstead Street
Giddings, TX 78942
(979) 542-5000

Budget Inn – Reserve a room online

389 W. Austin Street
Giddings, TX 78942
(979) 542-3839

Giddings Executive Inn – Reserve a room online

3556 E. Austin Street
Giddings, TX 78942
(979) 542-5791

Rainbow House Bed & Breakfast – Call to book a room

635 N. Main Street
Giddings, TX 78942
(979) 542-0601

Super 8 – Reserve a room online

4002 E. Austin Street
Giddings, TX 78942
(979) 542-9666

Studio 6 – Reserve a room online

301 Cefco Ln
Giddings, TX 78942
(979) 212-8191