So viel Spasz für wenig Geld
One of the great things about living in America is the possibility to immerse into our own version of Germany, without having to travel to the real one. The following are some impressions of the Wurstfest 2009 in New Braunfels, a Texas town that takes pride in its rich German heritage.
Even the cloudy skies and pouring down rain on this cool November Sunday couldn’t put a damper on the spirits of the attendees determined to grab a Wurstkabob, wear a silly hat, and find a partner for some Texas two-stepping to the oom paa band’s blaring polka music in the Wursthalle.
You know it’s going to be a good fest, when even the parking attendants are in the spirit.
The food selection was a bit unique, but still featured the traditional German dishes of Bratwurst, Sauerkraut, potato salad, Wurst-N-Taschen, and Wursttacos along side the special fair foods like fried pickles.
Unfortunately, the sausage cheese balls were sold out already.
But the Trichter Kuchen was still selling like hot cakes.
For 5 drink tickets, domestic malty beverages were available, and for a one ticket upgrade you could enjoy a Paulaner Hefeweizen in a commerative plastic souvenir cup.
The plastic mug was not the only authentic German souvenir availabe.
The highlite of course, as in all American Gervarian fests, was the chicken dance.
Fun was had by all.
November 10th, 2009 at 3:48 am
Should you ever need empty beer bottles to sell for two bucks at some sort of beer fest, let me know…
Great site, by the way, just stumbled upon it and having fun already.
November 10th, 2009 at 4:39 am
ahahah, the plastic mug — very authentic indeed =D
btw what’s the “HAbT SPASZ!”-area south of the biergarten — is this where the traditional chicken dance took place?
November 10th, 2009 at 8:06 am
Lol, americans seem to be more keen on Würstls than germans.
Very cool: the PLASTIC mug and EMPTY bottles. 2 things no german would pay for
November 10th, 2009 at 10:46 am
lol, empty bottles for sale
following the previous poster i will also offer real authentic empty german beer-bottles of high quality… thats hilarious!
It is always a bit strange when seeing “german culture” abroad is lumped together as a distillate of bavarians worst: beer, lederhosen and sausage ;))
Keep going, nice site
November 10th, 2009 at 11:04 am
“own version of Germany” is a pretty accurate statement *g*
November 10th, 2009 at 11:35 am
What the heck is Trichterkuchen?
I hope you told the people in the souvenir shop that empty beer bottles cost only a few cents in Germany^^
November 10th, 2009 at 12:46 pm
I feel deeply disturbed. please say they don’t think they are authentic, even if it means that you must lie to me!
November 10th, 2009 at 1:13 pm
No way I’m going to bring back my empty Flens bottles for a lousy 15 cents anymore, that’s for sure.
November 10th, 2009 at 2:56 pm
“Fun was had by all” - I like how you commented on the tendency of the English language to prefer passive constructions (or did you?)
November 10th, 2009 at 4:45 pm
At least they somehow managed to import authentic German “Schmuddelwetter”!
November 10th, 2009 at 6:02 pm
@TheDentinger Judging by the Picture, I’d say Trichterkuchen equals Auszogene (Ausgezogene in Wikipedia-German).
Apart from that: I hope America realizes that the Wurstfest is not really authentic. Although it looks like lots of fun!
November 10th, 2009 at 6:02 pm
Keep in mind, 15 eurocents are about 3 US$!
November 10th, 2009 at 6:17 pm
Meg Noz - In their defense, it did read HABT SPASZ, I believe there was a drop of rain on the camera lense that defaced the image of the sign.
Mr Weese - I am not that thoughtful. It was just good family fun.
TheDentigern, Julian - You can make anything German by chaning the font of the sign and directly translating the words into German. Funnel Cakes are sold at every fair in America. Imagine taking some liquidy sweet dough and dumping the batter through a funnel into a pool of boiling fat. Onces the dough cooks, fish it out of the fryer and onto a plate. At that point smother it in powdered sugar, serve and enjoy.
Horst - There is a business in reimporting American prescription drugs back into this country, maybe there is an opportunity in reimporting Pfandflaschen? I’ll check the math one more time.
November 10th, 2009 at 9:38 pm
Na, dann Prost Mahlzeit. Sogar das scheußliche Sauwetter war insklusiv. Trotzdem werde ich warten bis ich wieder in München bin über die Weihnachtsfeiertage um authentisch deutsch zu essen.
However, I’d much rather enjoyed my “Trichterkuchen” the American way, thankyouverymuch! A funnel cake made fresh and served hot with strawberries and whipped topping, consumed preferably at Disneyland’s Critter Country. Yum!
November 11th, 2009 at 11:58 am
Hey, it looks like you’ve had lots of Spasz, so who are we to carp about the details?
November 11th, 2009 at 2:32 pm
[…] Nothing For Ungood: So viel Spasz für wenig Geld… Ich liebe dieses Blog einfach. Wer schon einmal auf einem German Bierfest in den USA war, der schmeißt sich bei dem Beitrag lachend in die Ecke. Weißbier aus “original” Plastikbechern, leere Bierflaschen für $2, Wurst am Stock sowie Amerikaner in Lederhosen. […]
November 11th, 2009 at 4:50 pm
@John; Funniest post yet! The Amis take one on the chin! Wow!
I also like the comments, but the people posting don’t know the half of it! Why hasn’t anyone asked what the chicken dance is? How can we explain a Fritotorte? Or a Maishund (Maiswurst?)? Or the peculiar atmosphere of grease, beer and sweat under the Grosse Zelt?
BTW In my neck of the woods Trichterkuchen are known as “Dutch Funnel Cakes”, which makes them officially “German”.
One more thing; Could you have Spasz anywhere, or just in the “Habt Spasz”? (Thank God they located it next to the Biergarten!)
November 11th, 2009 at 5:36 pm
Also John: Good point! I guess confining the Spasz to a designated area creates a very authentic German experience.
November 12th, 2009 at 11:27 am
Actually, I accidentially read “So viel Spasms für wenig Geld” - which seems appropriate for the pictures showing the chicken dance…
November 15th, 2009 at 10:59 am
I find it somehow disturbing that whenever I hear or read something about German Volksfeste in the US, it has to be something like Oktoberfest. When I look at local Kirmessen or Viehmärkte (while still being in Germany), there are no Weißwürschtl, no Maßbier, no Lederhosn, no Dirndl, no Blaskapelle… OTOH I know you like irony
November 15th, 2009 at 11:05 pm
This is totally sick…
Can you estimate how many of the visitors there really believe this to be genuinely authentic?
November 16th, 2009 at 12:13 am
I’ve been to Wurstfest last year only because there is a 100km bike ride from Austin to New Braunfels, the wurstride. The wurstfest ticket is included with the ride.
Wurstfest is the same as Oktoberfest in Fredericksburg — overpriced beer from plastic cups, typical German kraut tacos, and as much bad music as you can stand, including the chicken dance.
Best thing I saw at wurstfest: a button reading “what do you call a mad German? A sauer kraut!”
November 16th, 2009 at 9:40 pm
This festival attracts 150,000 annually. While it may not be authentic to many of you — it has been a mainstay in my community for 50 years. We are Texas Germans! We have a great time. Our children learn German folk dances along with the Chicken dance and German folk songs. Non profits run the event and sell most of the concessions to support great causes that support those in need in my hometown. So, knock us if you like, we will continue to have a great time without letting any “sauer krauts” spoil the fun!
November 18th, 2009 at 4:44 pm
Wow, seems that the lack of humor really is a genetic feature of Germans. @Judy Young: How many generations since your ancestors left Germany?
@John: Keep up the good work, I really enjoy your blog! Greetings from the other side of the Atlantic.
November 19th, 2009 at 10:33 am
Trichterkuchen? Ein Kuchen mit Tunnel? Die meinen doch nicht etwa einen Gugelhupf?
http://www.rezeptwiese.de/images/recipes/0003/2500/gugelhupf.jpg
November 19th, 2009 at 1:13 pm
http://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Strauben
November 19th, 2009 at 3:56 pm
@krautgirl; Your comment is a little pointed, but I have to give you credit: you noticed a broken irony detector in America! Good job! Probably the first on this blog!
@Tcherman; Thanks. (The Wikipeda English translation to Funnel Cake gives a totally different explanation/definition.)
By the way, the Chicken Dance is an international cultural phenomenom. It is so totally insipid that I always thought it HAD to be an American invention, but really it started in Switzerland.
http://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ententanz
November 19th, 2009 at 5:29 pm
Thanks John
The funnel cake sounds delicious. I never heard it before but I definitely have to try it.
And I remember times when the Ententanz was obligatory on every Fasching. Now I know we were just being international
November 19th, 2009 at 6:07 pm
Yes, Ententanz is somewhat international… and Americans usually just don’t get that it is NOT German and especially NOT traditional. Assuming that (all) Germans (always) like to do the Ententanz is the same as assuming that (all) Americans (always) eat fast food — a stupid cliche bordering on racism.
November 20th, 2009 at 3:22 pm
Hey John Could someone buy your book in English? I can’t seem to find it anywhere in English. I just prefer reading in English.
November 30th, 2009 at 7:00 am
“One of the great things about living in America is the possibility to immerse into our own version of Germany, without having to travel to the real one.”
That’s not a great thing, that is on e of the biggest problems of the US, that people think they don’t need to travel and a reason for your worldknown geographic skills
But very nice blog, keep on that good work……..
November 30th, 2009 at 10:35 pm
I’ve been German all my life
but I’ve never seen a Wurst-N-Taschen….
December 1st, 2009 at 3:27 pm
@Marion; Of course you have! A Wurst-N-Taschen is also known as a Schwein-in-einer-Decke! (Chew on that for a while…)
@John; I did notice that Trichterkuchen were selling like hotcakes… Apparently the very simple humor of that statement is lost on our Deutsch friends.
@krautgirl; Funnel cakes are especially good when served in the traditional way: on a flimsy paper plate with a half-pound of powdered sugar. And it must be eaten while walking/standing. When the grease from frying soaks into the paper, it makes the plate fail and then it is like eating the stuffing from inside of a shoft taco - very messy, requiring special balancing skills, hand/eye coordination, and finger licking! You would LOVE it.
@Robert; Hey! Swiss. German. Austrian. We don’t make that distinction, nor do we care. Only Germans have oom-pah bands, so any song played with an accordian and a tuba is German. Don’t you get it? Keep flapping those wings!
December 1st, 2009 at 6:33 pm
“I did notice that Trichterkuchen were selling like hotcakes… Apparently the very simple humor of that statement is lost on our Deutsch friends.”
That’s because in Germany “warme Semmeln” are selling far better!
“Funnel cakes are especially good when served in the traditional way: on a flimsy paper plate with a half-pound of powdered sugar. And it must be eaten while walking/standing. When the grease from frying soaks into the paper, it makes the plate fail and then it is like eating the stuffing from inside of a shoft taco - very messy, requiring special balancing skills, hand/eye coordination, and finger licking! You would LOVE it.”
Eating döner is a somewhat similar experience! ;-D
December 5th, 2009 at 8:42 am
Hey there!
I recently finish to read your book and it was great!
Eh, but what about the comments by the translator?! The woman who translate your book is an idiot. Really, the comments sucks. Shes justify all the time! It’s really annoying.
Best wishes from the north of germany,
Sabrina
December 7th, 2009 at 2:25 am
I could swear that took place in Germany!
Funny, I can see some German culture everywhere, even here in Ontario.
December 9th, 2009 at 1:53 pm
Muahahahaaaaaaa (that’s Looooooool in english
)
Empty Flens-bottles for 2 bucks - Anyone want a sixpack of empty Astra bottles for just 10$ ???
@Judy Young: It would be interesting to know how you define “german folkdances” and “german “folk music”. The “Blasmusik” is Lightyears away from being REAL bavarian folkmusic as well as the REAL bavarian folkmusic is Galaxies away from the folkmusic of the northern german countries!
And: do your children also learn the german language??
Many greetings from the northern german plains
December 12th, 2009 at 8:28 am
i like the spasz..maybe because it’s spelled with a “ß” normally which is called in german “Eszett” (SZ) or scharfes S (sharp s)
It’s forbidden for me to write it in mails to my friend 
i’m happy that the american computers are going crazy about the sign they don’t know
December 12th, 2009 at 9:15 pm
Looks like a lot of fun
While I wouldn’t be caught dead on this kind of festival, if it was actually taking place in Germany (Lederhosen, Blasmusik), it’d probably be awesome to visit one in the US and be surrounded by Americans, enjoying themselves and doing the Ententanz!
Seriously, far from being offended by the way my Countries culture is translated at a Wurstfest, it’s actually nice to see the side of America that isn’t called Washington or NY/Wallstreet for a change. Should I make it to America, I’ll make sure to join in on the Wurstfest. I’ll bring Lederhosen and plenty of empty beer bottles. Cheers
December 22nd, 2009 at 12:46 pm
As i understand, Trichter Kuchen is something like the Dutch “Poffertjes”
Try it with Amaretto over the powder sugar….
Something i really enjoy
SK
December 23rd, 2009 at 5:11 pm
I recently saw a television commercial from Burger King advertising their new “Funnel Cake Strips”, so now in America you can get Trichter Kuchen any time you want! However, part of the magic of funnel cakes is the crazy swirl of the batter in the grease. Straight, short funnel cakes is just wrong!
Say, “Nein!” to Trichterkuchenstreifen!
January 8th, 2010 at 1:54 pm
*ROTFL*
Just stumbled upon this and took a few moments to LOL over the pics.
The mustache of the parking lot attendant was the most authentic thing at all
And I second the offer for used beer bottles *g*
January 17th, 2010 at 2:11 pm
Ein Kulturschock xD Nein, ehrlich. Ich empfinde alles “bayrische” als fremdartig…
Und es gibt tatsächlich einen Verein der die Mauer wieder aufbauen will— zwischen Deutschland und Bayern.
January 29th, 2010 at 10:26 am
The Bierseidel were sold as Coffee Cups? My Opa would have turned over in his grave
February 8th, 2010 at 8:52 am
hey… where did astrid go aka the nice translations for her?
February 12th, 2010 at 4:02 pm
Also, Anne, ich kann dich beruhigen: Dies hier ist so unbayrisch wie es nur irgendwie geht.
February 16th, 2010 at 10:22 am
Wonder if you didn’t see a “coffee to go”/ “Koffie to go”/ “Cofie to go”
February 25th, 2010 at 1:20 pm
Coffee Cup?
March 2nd, 2010 at 2:37 am
ROTFL! To me (being a Bavarian native from Munich and well familiar with the real Oktoberfest since childhood) this was absolutely hilarious, because I never expected it to be authentic at all, quite the opposite, and that’s the real fun. I know the expression “sells like hotcakes” very well, too, so the joke was definitely NOT lost on me.
I also guessed that the “chicken dance” is the same as the Ententanz (in fact, I seem to have encountered the chicken dance before somewhere). I’m sure I’d have a ball at that “Wurstfest”!
“Wurst-N-Taschen”, that’s fantastic.
BTW, the sausage on a stick looks wrong somehow. I mean, the shape … uhhh …
I can only call this a “Wurst-Käse-Szenario”!
Priceless comments, great job everyone. I’d say you made my day or rather night but I’ve had a lot fun reading the blog already before this (especially with the Wiesn-Wasn-Vergleich - LOL!), this was just the icing on the cake!