There may not be snow but the 2010 Wassailfest will be held Thursday, December 2nd in beautiful and historic hill country town of New Braunfels, Texas at the Main Plaza and San Antonio St.
You are invited to join the Mayor at 6 p.m., on Main Plaza when he makes the official toast to kick off this annual event. The festival features downtown businesses and non-profit organizations, serving as “Wassail Stops” during the evening, offering wassail of their choice, alcoholic and/or non-alcoholic, to passer-byes. Local entertainment, food, music, great shopping, and thousands of twinkling holiday lights add to the fun to be had along with your free wassail to sample!
According to Wikipedia, Wassail is a hot, “mulled ale made with sugar, cinnamon, ginger, and nutmeg and topped with slices of toast” said to be very popular in Germanic countries. They go on to explain that more recently recipes are based on wine, fruit juice, with brandy or sherry sometimes added. Don’t be surprised if you find pieces of winter fruits such as apples or oranges in the drink as these are also often added.
The practice of wassailing (caroling) is closely connected with the history of wassail which makes a lot of sense. If you go wassailing in the cold weather, drinking wassail will help keep you warm! An popular substitute for wassail in the US seems to be eggnog but with the German heritage of New Braunfels, the Wassailfest makes for a fun time.
Once you are at Wassailfest make sure you cast your vote for the People’s Choice award and see if you pick the winner of the Judges’ Choice awarded by the Wassail-Meisters. My “insiders” have told me that you will not want to miss the “Kahlua spiked hot chocolate;” it may not be traditional wassail but it is well worth the trip downtown!
At the close of the evening, head back to the Plaza bandstand to witness the door prize drawings – wishing you good luck!
This promises to be a delightful way for the family to kick off celebrations for the holiday season! Have you attended Wassailfest in the past? Do you have the scoop on the best Wassail? Let us know!
