Amana Colonies Wurst Festival: Brats, Brews, Dachshund Racing, and One of Iowa’s Most Unique Summer Festivals
Amana Colonies Wurst Festival
If there was ever an Iowa festival that fully embraces its theme, this is it.
The Amana Colonies Wurst Festival is a summertime celebration of brats, brews, live music, German-inspired fun, and one of the most entertaining small-town festival events you’ll find anywhere: dachshund racing.
The 2026 Wurst Festival takes place June 19-20, 2026, in Amana, Iowa, with most of the main events centered around the Market Barn area.
You’ll find food vendors, cold drinks, brass bands, live music, stein-holding competitions, bratwurst contests, and plenty of reasons to spend the day exploring the Amana Colonies.
And yes, if you’re wondering whether the dachshund races are as fun as they sound — they absolutely are.
What is Wurst Festival?
Wurst Festival is a food-centered celebration built around one of the Amana Colonies’ most famous traditions: sausage.
The festival combines the German heritage of the Amana Colonies with a lighthearted summer event atmosphere. It’s part food festival, part music festival, part family event, and part small-town Iowa spectacle.
The main festival area includes food vendors, drinks, seating, live entertainment, and the competitions that make Wurst Festival such a memorable stop.
It’s the kind of event where you can sample bratwurst, watch a stein-holding contest, listen to live music, cheer for racing dachshunds, and still have time to wander through the shops and restaurants in Amana.
Friday Night Kickoff
The festival begins Friday evening with a kickoff party from 5:00 to 8:00 p.m.
Friday night is a great way to ease into the weekend. Food and drinks are available, and brass bands help set the tone for the festival. It’s a more relaxed way to enjoy the event before Saturday’s full schedule kicks in.
If you’re making a weekend out of it, Friday night is a good time to arrive, grab something to eat, enjoy the music, and settle into the Amana Colonies before the bigger crowd arrives on Saturday.
Saturday at Wurst Festival
Saturday is the main day of the festival, with events running from 1:00 to 8:00 p.m.
This is when the festival really comes alive. The food vendors are serving, the beer is flowing, the live music is going, and the contests begin drawing crowds.
Saturday highlights include live music, the Masskrugstemmen stein-holding contest, the Brat Eating Contest, the Kids Ice Cream Eating Contest, the Raising Cane’s Dachshund Derby, and awards for the Wurst Competition.
Admission for Saturday is listed at $7, with children 12 and under admitted free.
Brats, Sausage, and the Wurst Competition
The food is the heart of the festival.
Wurst Festival brings together food vendors serving sausage, brats, barbecue, festival foods, and sweet treats. Visitors can sample their way through the event and vote for the People’s Choice award for best bratwurst.
Judges also select the “First in Wurst” winner, making this more than just a casual cookout. It’s a full bratwurst showdown.
So yes, this is your excuse to try more than one brat and call it research.
Masskrugstemmen: The Stein-Holding Contest
One of the classic Wurst Festival competitions is Masskrugstemmen, a traditional stein-holding contest.
Contestants hold a full beer stein straight out in front of them for as long as possible. It sounds simple until you see how quickly that stein starts to feel heavier.
The crowd usually gets into it, cheering on contestants as arms start to shake and the competition gets down to the final few.
Dachshund Derby
The Dachshund Derby might be the most popular part of the entire festival.
Crowds gather around the race area to watch dachshunds sprint, wander, pause, get distracted, and occasionally remember they are supposed to be racing.
It is chaotic in the best possible way.
The races are divided into several categories, including younger dachshunds, older dachshunds, dachshunds with disabilities, and mixed breed dogs. Winners receive trophies and Amana Colonies gift certificates.
If you’re visiting with kids, this is one of the events you’ll want to make sure you see. It’s funny, unpredictable, and one of those festival moments that people remember long after they leave.
Live Music and Festival Atmosphere
Wurst Festival also includes live music throughout the weekend, from brass bands to festival-stage performances.
The music adds a lot to the atmosphere, especially with the historic Market Barn area and the big festival tents as the backdrop. It feels like a celebration that fits perfectly in the Amana Colonies — casual, lively, and full of local character.
This is one of the reasons Wurst Festival works well as a full-day road trip. You can come for the food, stay for the races, and enjoy music and entertainment in between.
German-Inspired Fun in the Amana Colonies
Part of what makes Wurst Festival special is the setting.
The Amana Colonies already have a strong connection to German heritage, food traditions, historic buildings, and locally owned shops and restaurants. Wurst Festival builds on that identity with a weekend that feels both traditional and playful.
You’ll see German-inspired clothing, themed contests, brass music, bratwurst, beer steins, and plenty of visitors leaning into the fun.
Make It a Full Amana Colonies Road Trip
Wurst Festival is a great reason to visit Amana, but it doesn’t have to be the only thing you do while you’re there.
Before or after the festival, leave time to explore the Amana Colonies. You can visit local shops, bakeries, restaurants, wineries, breweries, museums, and historic buildings throughout the villages.
If you’re coming from Des Moines, Cedar Rapids, Iowa City, Waterloo, or the Quad Cities, this is an easy day trip or weekend getaway.
The festival gives you a reason to go. The rest of the Amana Colonies gives you a reason to stay longer.
Tips for Visiting Wurst Festival
Here are a few tips before you go:
Arrive early on Saturday. The main festival begins at 1:00 p.m., but Amana is worth exploring before the gates open.
Bring cash. Some contests, registration fees, or small purchases may require cash.
Wear comfortable shoes. You may want to walk between the Market Barn area, shops, restaurants, and other village events.
Check the official schedule before you go. Festival schedules can change, so confirm times and details before making the trip.
Plan around the Dachshund Derby. This is one of the most popular events of the weekend, so give yourself time to find a viewing spot.
Where is Wurst Festival?
The main Wurst Festival events take place at the Market Barn area in Amana.
Market Barn Area
707 46th Ave
Amana, Iowa 52203
The Amana Colonies Visitors Center is also nearby and is a good place to stop for maps, visitor information, and details about other events happening in the villages.
Why It’s Worth the Drive
Wurst Festival is one of those Iowa events that is easy to recommend because it has such a clear personality.
It’s not just a food festival. It’s not just a music event. It’s not just a dog race.
It’s all of those things packed into one very Amana weekend.
You get bratwurst, beer, brass music, live bands, stein holding, family contests, historic scenery, and dachshunds running across the grass while a crowd cheers them on.
That’s a pretty good Iowa road trip.
Plan Your Visit
Event: Amana Colonies Wurst Festival
Dates: June 19-20, 2026
Location: Amana, Iowa
Main festival area: Market Barn Area
Address: 707 46th Ave, Amana, Iowa 52203
Saturday admission: $7; children 12 and under free
Best for: Food lovers, families, live music fans, dog lovers, German heritage, and summer road trips
For the latest schedule, registration details, and event updates, visit the official Amana Colonies Wurst Festival page before you go.
