Wasserfest New Braunfels Returns May 16: Tickets, Tubing, Music, and River Rules
Wasserfest New Braunfels returns on Saturday, May 16, 2026, and you have a short window to plan the comeback before the first floaters hit the Comal River. The revived festival is centered at Landa Falls on the Wurstfest grounds, so your best first move is to understand the area around Landa Park New Braunfels, the river, and the event schedule before you buy tickets.
The core decision is simple: you can treat Wasserfest as a low-cost riverside festival, or you can add tubing and make it a full Comal River day. The smoother choice depends on your group, your comfort in the water, and how carefully you pack for New Braunfels river rules.
Use the details below to choose your ticket, plan your arrival time, pack the right containers, and decide whether the event works for kids or non-tubers. Exact prices, times, rules, and river-status guidance were checked on May 12, 2026, because a May river event can change quickly when weather or flow conditions shift.
What is Wasserfest returning to New Braunfels on May 16?
Wasserfest is returning as a New Braunfels river festival built around tubing, music, food, games, and a day on the Comal. The official Landa Falls page describes Wasserfest as an 1980s summer kickoff tradition that started at Landa Falls and is coming back to the river.
That comeback matters because the event has been absent for more than three decades. Local coverage from MySA reports that Wasserfest last took place in 1993 and returns on Saturday, May 16, 2026, which is the source for the after-33-years framing.
You should think of the 2026 version as a practical river day rather than a huge multi-day festival. It has a defined afternoon schedule, one announced live music act, and a ticket structure that separates general admission from tubing.
The setting is part of the draw. The Comal River begins at Comal Springs and runs through New Braunfels, and city river operations describe it as approximately 2.5 miles long and the shortest navigable river in Texas.
That means you are not planning a remote outdoor trip with long transfers between festival grounds and river access. You are planning a compact Landa Falls and Wurstfest grounds day where the river, picnic space, and music schedule sit close together.
What time should you arrive for floating, food, and music?
You should arrive early if tubing is part of your plan, because the official floating window starts at 10 AM and runs until 2 PM. If you only care about food, games, and music, arriving closer to noon gives you a more relaxed festival rhythm.
The official Landa Falls event listing gives three main schedule blocks: floating from 10 AM to 2 PM, food trucks and river games beginning at noon, and live music by Soul Sessions from 1 PM to 4 PM. That creates a useful split between active river time and easier hangout time.
| Time | What to plan |
|---|---|
| 10 AM – 2 PM | Float the Comal River and enjoy the Landa Falls grounds. |
| Noon | Food trucks, fun, and river games begin. |
| 1 PM – 4 PM | Soul Sessions plays live music on the banks of the Comal River. |
If you are tubing for the first time in New Braunfels, leave more margin than you think you need. A separate plan for Comal River tubing in New Braunfels can help you understand the rhythm of getting on the water, managing gear, and getting back to your group.
You should also check the river status before leaving home. The City of New Braunfels says on its Comal River page that river access parks are open daily from 6 AM to midnight, but the river can close during high water or for public safety.
The same city page lists 100-500 cfs as the range when all recreation activities are available, 500-600 cfs as extreme caution, and 600+ cfs as a temporary river closure. Treat that as a morning-of check, not something you only read once earlier in the week.
For the most balanced day, get there before noon if you want to float, then shift to food and music after you dry off. If you are skipping tubing, aim for the noon-to-4 PM window and bring the shade, seating, and reusable drink setup you will actually use.
How much are Wasserfest tickets and tubing passes?
Wasserfest has two practical ticket decisions: general festival entry or festival entry with a tubing trip. Landa Falls lists general Wasserfest tickets at $10, with kids under 12 free.
If you want the tubing option, Landa Falls lists Wasserfest plus tubing trip tickets at $20 for adults ages 13 and older and $10 for children ages 6-12. That price difference matters because a child under 12 may be free for festival entry but not automatically free for the tubing trip.
| Ticket choice | Listed price | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Wasserfest general admission | $10; kids under 12 free | You want food, games, music, and riverbank time without tubing. |
| Wasserfest plus tubing trip, adults 13+ | $20 | You want the festival plus a Comal River float. |
| Wasserfest plus tubing trip, children ages 6-12 | $10 | You have a child who meets the age and swimming requirements and will tube. |
The key question is not only price. You should ask whether every person in your group can swim, wants to be on the river, and is comfortable managing reusable containers and tubing gear for several hours.
Landa Falls also says it offers free parking, an air-conditioned shuttle, tubes, cooler tubes, and personal flotation devices available for rent, with life vests available with each rental at no charge. That makes the tubing ticket easier for a first-timer, but it does not remove the need to follow the property and river rules.
If your group is split, consider buying tubing tickets only for the people who truly want to float. Non-tubers can still use the event as a riverside afternoon built around food trucks, games, seating, and the 1 PM to 4 PM Soul Sessions set.
Where should you park and enter near Landa Falls?
Use Landa Falls as your official arrival reference, because it controls the event and the tubing operation. The official page places Landa Falls in New Braunfels on the Wurstfest grounds and lists parking for Landa Falls at 129 Landa Street, with the venue address at 120 Landa Street.
That detail is worth checking before you navigate, because local event coverage may present nearby addresses differently. For planning, the operator-listed 120 Landa Street venue address and 129 Landa Street parking note are the practical arrival facts to use.
Landa Falls says parking is free and convenient, which is helpful on a day when many people may be arriving in the same window. You should still build in time to park, meet your group, handle tickets, and sort river gear before the best floating hours pass.
The broader setting is Landa Park and the Comal River corridor. The City of New Braunfels Landa Park page describes the park as a 51-acre space with walking trails, playgrounds, an outdoor amphitheater, the Wurstfest grounds, Comal Springs, and the beginning of the Comal River.
For a smoother arrival, decide before you leave whether your first stop is tubing check-in, a picnic spot, or music. If you wait until you are in the parking flow to decide, your group may lose the easy part of the morning.
What river rules should you know before you pack?
The most important packing rule is simple: bring reusable containers, not disposable ones. Landa Falls specifically tells Wasserfest attendees to bring picnic blankets, chairs, and reusable containers, and the river rules make that wording matter.
The Landa Falls river rules page says everyone must be able to swim, the property is for ages 6 and older, and pets are not allowed. It also lists the Comal River restrictions you should treat as packing rules, not suggestions.
- Do not bring disposable containers, glass, foam containers, or litter-prone food packaging.
- Do not bring volume drinking devices or containers under 5 fluid ounces.
- Keep music and speakers low enough that noise is not audible beyond 50 feet.
- Use only one cooler per person, and keep each cooler at 30 quarts or smaller with a clasp on the lid.
- Limit tubes to two per person, and do not use round inflatable tubes larger than 5 feet in diameter.
- Do not jump from bridges, dams, or trees into the Comal River.
You should pack like you expect your cooler or drink bottle to tip over. Reusable bottles, secure food containers, and a latched cooler make more sense than anything that can spill, float away, or count as disposable trash.
The city also asks people to use designated access parks and avoid getting in the water near Comal Springs in Landa Park to help protect native and protected species. That is a useful reminder that a festival day on the river still depends on careful river access.
If you are unsure about an item, leave it out or switch to a reusable version. A lighter, rule-friendly bag is better than a cooler full of things you have to take back to the car.
Is Wasserfest a good fit for kids and non-tubers?
Wasserfest can work for kids and non-tubers if you plan it as a grounds-and-music event, not only as a tubing day. The official schedule includes food trucks, fun, and river games starting at noon, plus Soul Sessions from 1 PM to 4 PM.
The pricing also makes a non-tubing visit easier for families because kids under 12 are listed as free for Wasserfest entry. Tubing is more specific, because children ages 6-12 have a listed tubing-trip price and Landa Falls rules say everyone on the property must be at least 6 years old and able to swim.
If you are bringing younger kids, focus on the festival entry details first and verify the age rule before purchase. For a broader weekend plan, the site has a separate guide to things to do in New Braunfels TX with kids that can help you build a backup plan around the event.
Non-tubers should bring a chair or picnic blanket and treat the day like a relaxed riverbank hangout. That works best if your group agrees on a meeting spot before anyone gets on the water.
For mixed groups, make the tubers responsible for their own gear and timing. The people staying dry should not have to manage wet towels, loose containers, or items that cannot go near the river.
How should you plan the rest of your New Braunfels day?
The smartest plan is to let Wasserfest anchor the middle of your day, then choose only one extra New Braunfels activity before or after it. The event already gives you floating, food trucks, games, and music, so packing the day too tightly can turn a fun river afternoon into a timing problem.
If you arrive early, use the morning for parking, ticket check-in, and a calm start rather than a separate attraction across town. If you are staying after the music, use late afternoon or evening for a meal, a short walk, or a slow reset before the drive home.
Landa Park gives you useful nearby context because the city lists trails, playgrounds, an arboretum, the Wurstfest grounds, and the beginning of the Comal River in the same broader park setting. That does not mean every feature fits into your Wasserfest day, but it helps you understand why this area is a natural festival location.
Wasserfest also fits into a larger pattern of Texas traditions that mix music, food, local identity, and outdoor gathering. The difference here is that you need to respect river rules and current water conditions, not just show up for a stage schedule.
If you are driving from San Antonio, Austin, or another Hill Country stop, build in a meal plan and a dry-clothes plan. Wet seats, full coolers, and late departures are the parts of a river day that usually feel small until you are already tired.
What should you bring for a smooth May 16 visit?
Your packing list should start with shade, seating, reusable containers, and clothing that can handle river spray. Landa Falls names picnic blankets, chairs, and reusable containers for Wasserfest, so those items are not just comfort choices.
- Reusable water bottles or insulated cups.
- Reusable food containers if you bring snacks.
- A chair or picnic blanket for music and riverbank time.
- A small latched cooler, if you need one.
- Towels, dry clothes, sunscreen, and water shoes.
- A simple waterproof pouch for phone, ID, and cards.
Do not pack glass, single-use bottles, cans, foam cups, snack wrappers, or disposable bags for river use. The easier move is to transfer everything into reusable containers at home, then double-check your cooler size before you leave.
If your group enjoys river trips beyond New Braunfels, compare the packing mindset with a separate Frio River Texas visitor guide. Different rivers have different access details, but the best trips usually start with simple gear, reusable containers, and a realistic day plan.
You should also bring patience. A revived event after a long absence can draw both nostalgic locals and curious first-timers, so lines, parking flow, and tubing check-in may feel busier than a normal Saturday at the river.
How do you make Wasserfest part of a Hill Country weekend?
Wasserfest works best as the centerpiece of a Hill Country weekend if you keep May 16 focused on the river. The Comal setting, short event window, and afternoon music give you enough structure that you do not need to chase a long list of extra stops.
For a one-night trip, arrive in New Braunfels on Friday, keep Saturday open for the festival, and leave Sunday for a slower meal or scenic drive. That rhythm lets you enjoy the event without treating every hour like a reservation.
If you want a more adult-focused weekend, pair the river day with a later plan built around patios, small-town wandering, or Texas Hill Country vineyards. Keep any wine or late-night plans separate from tubing, especially if anyone in your group will be driving.
For music fans, Soul Sessions gives the festival its afternoon anchor, but the event is still more than a concert. You are choosing a New Braunfels river tradition, and that means the best weekend plan respects both the community feel and the water.
The most useful version of the weekend is flexible. Buy the right ticket, check the flow, pack reusable containers, and leave enough open time to enjoy why Wasserfest came back to the river in the first place.
FAQ on Wasserfest New Braunfels
Is Wasserfest in New Braunfels happening on May 16, 2026?
Yes: local coverage reports Wasserfest is returning to New Braunfels on Saturday, May 16, 2026, after last taking place in 1993. The official Landa Falls page also lists Wasserfest as a returning New Braunfels tradition with the event schedule, ticket prices, tubing option, and Soul Sessions live music details.
Do you need a tubing ticket for Wasserfest?
No, you do not need a tubing ticket just to attend the festival. Landa Falls lists general Wasserfest tickets at $10, with kids under 12 free, and a separate Wasserfest plus tubing trip ticket at $20 for adults 13 and older and $10 for children ages 6-12.
Can you bring food and drinks to Wasserfest?
You can bring picnic-style items, but you should use reusable containers and follow the Comal River rules. Do not bring disposable containers, glass, foam containers, loose wrappers, oversized coolers, or containers under 5 fluid ounces for river use.
Is Wasserfest good for kids?
It can be, especially if your plan is food trucks, games, music, and riverside seating. Tubing requires more care because Landa Falls lists a children ages 6-12 tubing ticket and its river rules say everyone on the property must be 6 or older and able to swim.
Where is Wasserfest at Landa Falls?
Use the official Landa Falls location details for arrival. Landa Falls lists the venue at 120 Landa Street in New Braunfels and parking for Landa Falls at 129 Landa Street, on the Wurstfest grounds near the Comal River.
What should you check before you go to the river?
Check the City of New Braunfels Comal River status before you leave, especially if rain has been in the forecast. The city lists 100-500 cfs as normal recreation flow, 500-600 cfs as extreme caution, and 600+ cfs as a temporary river closure range.
