Germanfest
Muenster, Texas

When: late April

Where: The Cooke County community of Muenster.

For "gemutlichkeit" and good times, look no further than the north Texas town of Muenster, which greets 35,000 visitors each final weekend in April for a three-day homage to German heritage.

Events: If watching Weekend Wolfgang Puck's test their skill on the grill at the Barbecue Cook-off makes you work up an appetite, why not add a dash of Deutschland to your diet as you sample the sauerkraut, sausage, schnitzel and strudel prepared by the fest's many food vendors. Burn off those calories in a scenic streak through the town of Muenster during the 5K or 15K Fun Run, or conquer the challenging 22-, 40- or 63-mile routes set up for the Bicycle Rally. Muscular "menchen" can sign up for the Nagelschlagen contest, a show of strength in which contestants attempt to strike a nail spike into a tree stump with the least amount of blows, or festival attendees can join lederhosen-clad lads and dirndl-dressed damsels on the dance floor as bands play polka tunes at the German "Tanz Halle" and country hits on the Texas stage.

Children's Activities: Little munchkins will be mesmerized by magicians and mimes at the Kinder Theater while pre-adolescent attendees will enjoy the rock-climbing wall and carnival rides.

For more information:

•visit www.germanfest.net