It would be difficult to select just one. All our entertainers have a great sound and style of their own. Whether the polka is sung in German, Czech, English or Spanish… a polka is a polka.
I love the music, the selection of adult beverages and the food, but if had to select one, it would be the entertainment.What’s your favorite part about Wurstfest? In 2006, when Wurstfest was aired on ABC’s Good Morning America Show on the festival’s opening day.What’s your most memorable Wurstfest experience? The memories he shared with us really helped us see the festival through his eyes.
Wurst fest new braunfels texas series#
We asked Castilleja a series of questions about his Wurstfest experiences over the years, as well as what it was like being a part of the organization. He has served seven years on the Wurstfest Association Board.Įxperiencing Wurstfest Through Castilleja’s Eyes Voting shareholders then elected him in 2012 to officially serve on the Board. In 1987, Castilleja became a Kleine Opa and in 1994, he rose to Opa status!Ĭastilleja’s Next Step: Becoming a Wurstfest Association Board MemberĬastilleja was first appointed by the President of the Wurstfest Association, Steve Taylor, to serve as a Board member in 2011. Castilleja, being a New Braunfels native, said, experiencing the festival and knowing what it did for the community, was his motivation for wanting to be a member of the Wurstfest Association. “It is an honor and a privilege to be selected to serve as an Opa of Wurstfest.” -Castilleja Castilleja’s Community Involvement Lead to Becoming an OpaĬastilleja’s community involvement got the attention of various Opas and he was asked to apply and was sponsored by Mitch Sacco, D.D.S., and local attorney Steve Taylor. After several years of service, a shareholder Opa becomes a regular Opa, meaning he can vote and serve in various capacities (e.g., Chair of a committee, elected Board member, etc.). This is an apprentice position a member must serve for a minimum of three years before earning “shareholder” (Opa) status. As you’ll read below, Castilleja’s community involvement and profile is what first drew the attention of the Wurstfest Association, prompting them to ask him to apply.įirst, you become a Kleine Opa, meaning you are a non-voting member that must reapply annually for membership. Opas are also typically involved in the community in other meaningful, impactful ways, too. A Wurstfest Opa is dedicated to promoting and celebrating German heritage within the community as part of the Wurstfest Association-but that’s not all. Who is a Wurstfest Opa, then? Think of this person as a civic-minded community member. The board meets monthly from November to September and weekly in October. When Wurstfest season is over, Opas have additional responsibilities beyond the ten-day festival, too. Being present during the festival as much as possible.Attending at least three of five social membership functions annually.Working a minimum of 24 hours at an assigned task during the festival.The next question you’re probably asking is, what does a Wurstfest Opa (grandfather) do? Currently, Wurstfest has 295 Opas and they hold many responsibilities, including: “Opa” is the Wurstfest Association’s only membership category however, members are not exclusively male. Let’s start with the question you must be wondering: What is a Wurstfest Opa? Opa is a German word meaning grandfather, while Oma means grandmother. He currently resides in New Braunfels with his family, where they continue to attend Wurstfest every year. He attended Southwest Texas State University (now Texas State University) in San Marcos, Texas, where every November he would drive a few miles down the road to attend the annual German celebration event. He grew up in New Braunfels and stuck around the area after graduating New Bruanfels High School. Who better to give us insight on the ins and out of Wurstfest than Joe himself? He was generous enough to spend some time with us chatting about the festival and about his own Wurstfest journey.Ĭastilleja’s Involvement in Wurstfest Goes Back to 1966Ĭastilleja has been attending Wurstfest since childhood. Castilleja, has a great involvement in Wurstfest: Along with being a Wurstfest Opa, he has also served as a Board member for the Wurstfest Association for many years. November is here, which means it’s the season of giving thanks but in South Central Texas, November is also a time when many residents celebrate their German heritage at the annual Wurstfest Festival in New Bruanfels, Texas. November: A Time to Celebrate German Heritage in South Central Texas
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