FROM EDELWEISS TO EDGY – WURSTFEST
OFFERS SONGS, POLKAS TO SUIT EVERYONE

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
For more information, contact C. Herb Skoog

FROM EDELWEISS TO EDGY – WURSTFEST
OFFERS SONGS, POLKAS TO SUIT EVERYONE

NEW BRAUNFELS, TX – If you stay at Wurstfest long enough, you will hear all the traditional polkas and waltzes. You will hear “Edelweiss” and “Ein Prosit.” You will hear Jimmy Sturr and his Orchestra sing about Alice. You will see skilled musicians play cowbells, Alpine horns and even saws. You also will hear sounds described as festival pop and “hard-edge Alpine.” You many even hear an electric guitar solo.

Three stages open daily during a 10-day festival gave the Wurstfest Entertainment Committee the opportunity to bring back band favorites as well as bring in four sensational new acts this year for Wurstfest. The 49th annual Wurstfest begins on Friday, Oct. 30 and runs through Sunday, Nov. 8 at the Wurstfest grounds in Landa Park along the beautiful Comal River.

“Squeezebox is from northwest Ohio. They are a highly-acclaimed band that play all the German, Polish and Czech polkas,” says Carroll Coleman, entertainment chairman.

The trio includes Bandleader Ted Lange on accordion, bass and vocals; Mollie Busta on trumpet, sax, piano, button box and vocals; and Dave Burner on drums and vocals. Squeezebox also offers a unique twist to some old songs.

The band plays from 5:30 to 9:30 p.m. on United Way Night, Monday, Nov. 2 in the Wursthalle. They play again at 5:30 p.m. and 8:20 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 3, in the Kleine Zelt (Little Tent); and 8 p.m. and 10:30 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 5 in the Kleine Zelt.

Also new this year is the eight-piece show band Spitze!

“They are a German American Alpine Show band and play at some of the largest Octoberfests in the country,” Coleman says.

Spitze! plays at 4:50 p.m., 7:30 p.m. and 10:10 p.m. in the Grosse Zelt (Big Tent) on Saturday, Oct. 31; and at 4:20 p.m. and 7 p.m. in the Grosse Zelt on Sunday, Nov. 1.

A third group visiting Wurstfest for the first time is the Münchner Kindle Show.

“This is the first time we have an all-female group performing at Wurstfest,” Coleman says.

The professional group from Germany provides Bavarian-type entertainment that includes singing and dancing, Coleman says.

“Famous yodeler Veronika Lentz will be performing as part of the group as well,” he says.

The Münchner Kindl Group will be performing several nights throughout Wurstfest. Their first performance takes place at 8 p.m. Friday, Oct. 30 in the Kleine Zelt.

Also, the Havlak-Batla Polka Time Band, from San Angelo, Texas, makes their debut at Wurstfest from 2 to 5 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 7 in the Wursthalle.

Returning favorites include the 18-time Grammy-award winning Jimmy Sturr Orchestra , the Alex Meixner Band, Alpenfest, Master Yodeler Kerry Christensen, Dujka Brothers, Die Schlauberger and locals Terry Cavanagh and Catie Offerman.

The Comal Community Band will play at the opening ceremonies of Wurstfest at 4 p.m. Oct. 30 in the Wursthalle and several more times throughout Wurstfest. The Cloverleaf Orchestra, which has been with Wurstfest all 49 years, plays at 6 p.m. Oct. 30 and several more times throughout Wurstfest.

This year’s Wurstfest Waltz Contest takes place at 4:30 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 1 in the Wursthalle. This year’s Polka Contest takes place at 3:30 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 8 in the Wursthalle.

For a complete entertainment schedule, go to www.wurstfest.com.

The Wurstfest Association of New Braunfels is a non-profit corporation whose purpose is to promote the local economy through tourism and promote and preserve the community’s rich German heritage. Proceeds from the event benefit a wide variety of projects.