Join KC Council #9765 for a sausage and specialty beer event. Enjoy sausage offerings from renowned Texas vendors along with specialty and craft beer, including some local area favorites. Kid-friendly activities will be available for a family-oriented event catering to locals and "Auslanders" alike. Proceeds raised all go to a good cause – to fund local charitable and scholarship causes of the Knights of Columbus.

Providing the essential polka sounds for BestFest will be music by two highly recognized Texas groups. Fritz Hodde (pronounced "Hottie") and "The Fabulous Six" will be the first band to play. Fritz Hodde is a statewide recognized and an award winning Polka band from Hutto, Texas. The Seven Dutchmen Orchestra hail from New Braunfels, Texas, also award winning, and are led by John Kaderli. Both ensembles will entertain dancers with polka and big band tunes from 2:00 until 10:00 PM.

John Eilers, Event Chairman notes that the council has several known sausage vendors committed to the event, including Slovacek Sausage of Snook, Frederick-burg’s own Opa’s Sausage and Smoked Meats, and Kiolbassa Sausage Company from San Antonio. Each vendor will provide a variety of their sausage offerings for tasting, allowing everyone to sample multiple types of sausages. Adding a twist, an assortment of specialty and craft beers will be available for purchase to complement and pair with the sausage, or the sausage to the beer. "Everyone always hears of food and wine pairings, so we thought it would be enjoyable to do this with our German heritage and culture in mind: while creating a new and fun atmosphere of sausage and beer pairing," added Eilers. Additionally, those attending throughout the event will be allowed to vote for their favorite sausage and beer. Votes will be tallied, and to culminate the evening, the winners will be announced and trophies will be awarded.

Traditional German sides will complete the meal, including applesauce, homemade German potatoes and sauerkraut, along with pumpernickel or rye bread. A variety of mustards from Fischer & Wieser Specialty Foods will provide that tasty and culinary balance to any of the sausage and beer offerings.

Eilers mentioned that the council had a great time putting the first BestFest together last year. "Everyone seemed to have a great time, and we heard from many people who really enjoyed matching the different beers and sausage combinations." Local beer distributors Ben E Keith and Keg 1 added their expertise to the event, educating BestFest-goers on the different kinds of beer available and suggesting beer and sausage pairings. This year Blanco’s Real Ale will be joining us for the first time, and will be presenting several of their most popular craft brews. Their Oktoberfest and Lost Gold IPA will join Fireman’s #4, the number one best selling craft beer in the area. Local Fredericksburg Brewing Company will highlight two of their draft brews. Everyone will have an extensive specialty and craft beer selection available to pair with at least 16 types of sausages.

"BestFest also falls in the middle of Dove Season, and a couple of weeks before the opening of Deer, Turkey and Quail Seasons, so we’ve put together a few attractions and "bucket raffles" with that in mind," Eilers added. The featured raffle drawing prize is a 2011 4x2 Kawasaki Mule to be drawn from a maximum of only 1,000 tickets to be sold. This year’s BestFest will also include the council’s own version of a "21-Gun Salute" – drawings for twenty-one guns, with a maximum of 735 tickets to be sold, with a 1 in 35 chance of winning. Tickets for each drawing are $20 each and are available now, until sold out. The raffle drawing will be held at the end of the evening, and winners of the mule and gun drawings need not be present to win. Other bucket drawings will include prizes for other outdoor activities, hunting and fishing items. The bucket drawings will introduce a chance to win a lifetime Texas hunting and fishing license, a $1,800 value. Additional hunting and fishing opportunities, auto detailing, wildlife feeders, Yeti coolers, and the like will also be available for chances. Don’t forget to Register for a $200 Prepaid VISA Card, It’s a thank you for being at our event and a chance to leave with a little more than you came with!

Overall, the purpose of this event is to raise money for the KC’s charitable and scholarship funds. It will provide for an entertaining day with great food, specialty and craft beer, and good times for those who would like to explore the culinary delights of sausage and beer…not to mention the outstanding polka music, dancing and a fun-time to be had in a laid back old-time German atmosphere.

BestFest is sponsored by Mercedes-Benz of Boerne. Enjoy the Lap of Luxury with Hill Country Hospitality. Mercedes-Benz of Boerne. Experience the Difference. See you there!