Founded by a German prince in 1845, New Braunfels has over 150 years of rich history. Home to the first public school system in the state and some of Texas' oldest churches, New Braunfels is also proud to host Texas' oldest continuously operating bakery (Naeglin's Bakery) and dance hall (Gruene Hall), among many other historic businesses and locations.
Our history as one of the first and largest German settlements in Texas is a sense of community pride, reflected in our German-influenced architecture, street names, and year-round festivals. Also home to a large Hispanic population, New Braunfels is enriched by the diversity and growing influence of Mexican culture in our city.
New Braunfelsers celebrate our rich history annually through festivals and events throughout the year. The largest festival, Wurstfest, is our "10-day Salute to Sausage" and draws thousands of visitors from across the country to an Oktoberfest-style celebration.
Other community celebrations include the annual Dia de los Muertos Festival, Weihnachtsmarkt and Wassailfest during the Winter holidays, and Folkfest, which gives us a glimpse into the lives of our founders from nearly 200 years ago.