Texas Wendish Heritage Society & Museum

10/13/2026

Ron Lammert dedicated decades of service to preserving and sharing Wendish history, culture, and genealogy through the Texas Wendish Heritage Society. Many people who visited the Society’s booth at the Texas Folklife Festival or the museum in Serbin may not have known Ron personally, but they likely learned about Wendish heritage through his widely distributed pamphlet, “Who are the Wends?” His gift for writing and communication helped introduce countless visitors to the story of the Wends and their journey to Texas.

Ron’s involvement with the Society stretched across many years and many roles. He helped draft the Society’s first constitution, supported museum and festival activities, organized educational events, and remained deeply involved in genealogy and family history research. His passion for preserving Wendish heritage, combined with his talent as a writer, publisher, and historian, created a lasting impact that continues to educate and inspire visitors and descendants alike. Božemje, Ron, and thank you for your many contributions to the Society.

Our Tribute Tuesdays are shared in no particular order as we continue honoring the many individuals whose dedication, passion, and service helped shape the Texas Wendish Heritage Society into what it is today. Do you have a story or know someone who made a lasting impact on TWHS? We would love to hear from you! Please share your memories with us at [email protected] so we can continue preserving not only our history, but also the stories of the people who made it possible.

10/08/2026

Are you interested in learning how to make a Wendish Coffee Cake? We are offering an in-person class at the museum on Saturday, November 7, from 10am-12pm.

Register here: https://texaswends.wufoo.com/forms/m7j2pdd1iaxniy/

10/02/2026

If you did not get to attend Wendish Fest this year, this is what you missed. We hope to see you all out at the 39th annual Wendish Fest on September 26, 2027!

10/01/2026

We are absolutely blown away that Wendish Fest was nominated for Best of Texas Festivals and even more honored to have WON our category!

This recognition means so much to us because Wendish Fest truly is a community effort. None of this would be possible without St. Paul Lutheran Church, St. Paul School staff and students, our dedicated volunteers, TWHS Board members, and our amazing Wendish Fest Planning Committee. Each and every one of you plays an important part in making this event happen year after year.

We are incredibly grateful and honored to receive this award, and we are so proud to share the Wendish heritage and traditions we love with everyone who comes to Wendish Fest. Thank you to everyone who helps make it so special!

09/30/2026

Ready to learn the beautiful art of Wendish Easter egg decorating? Join us at the Texas Wendish Heritage Museum on Saturday, October 17th, from 9:00am–4:00pm for a full day of learning, creating, and having fun!

Sandra Matthijetz and Susan Unger will guide you through the process as you create your own decorative Wendish Easter eggs. You’ll also take home the essential tools and knowledge to continue practicing your new skills.

Class includes:
• All supplies and tools
• Egg-decorating book
• Snacks
• Instructions

This is an all-day class and is $75 per person. Please bring your own lunch.

Spots are limited! Use the registration link below to reserve your spot. Payment is required at the time of registration to secure your place. Registration fees are non-refundable, but your registration may be transferred to another person if you are unable to attend. Please contact the museum to make arrangements for a transfer. Questions? Email us at [email protected].

Register here: https://texaswendish.wufoo.com/forms/z12qp9ri0wrz6sf/

09/29/2026

(English below 👇🏼) Zum 38. Mal trafen sich in Serbin, Texas Nachfahren sorbisch / wendischer Auswanderer zum Wendish Fest – dem wichtigsten sorbischen Fest der USA. 🎉

Ein historischer Festumzug erzählte die Geschichte der ersten Auswanderer von 1854 nach. Dazu gab es Live-Musik von der Shiner Hobo Band, Kaffee und Kuchen sowie Vorführungen, wie „Wendish Noodles“, Wein und Wurst nach alter Tradition hergestellt werden. Zudem öffnete auch das örtliche Museum zu freiem Eintritt.
Und: Auch unser “Sorbisch? Na klar.”-Merch hat es bis nach Texas geschafft! 🤍

Seit den 1970er-Jahren kümmert sich die Texas Wendish Heritage Society darum, dass diese Geschichte nicht verloren geht – durch Ahnenforschung, kulturelle Projekte und eben das jährliche Fest.

Mehr zur Geschichte der sorbischen Auswanderer liest du in unserem Magazinbeitrag.
📖🔗 https://www.sorbisch-na-klar.de/das-magazin/sorben-in-texas-wie-serbin-zur-heimat-in-amerika-wurde

Foto/Video: Clemens Schmidt


For the 38th time, descendants of Sorbian / Wendish immigrants gathered in Serbin, Texas, for the Wendish Fest – the most important Sorbian festival in the U.S. 🎉

A historical parade reenacted the story of the first immigrants from 1854. The event featured live music by the Shiner Hobo Band, coffee and cake, as well as demonstrations of how “Wendish Noodles,” w**e, and sausage are made according to old traditions. The local museum also opened its doors with free admission.
And: Our "Sorbisch? Na klar.” merchandise even made it all the way to Texas! 🤍

Since the 1970s, the Texas Wendish Heritage Society has been working to ensure that this history isn’t lost - through genealogy, cultural projects, and, of course, the annual festival.

You can read more about the history of the Sorbian emigrants in our magazine article.
📖🔗 https://www.sorbisch-na-klar.de/das-magazin/sorbian-people-in-texas-how-a-serbian-woman-found-a-home-in-america

Photo/Video: Clemens Schmidt

09/29/2026

09/28/2026

I wanted to take a moment to give a HUGE thank you to everyone who helped make Wendish Fest possible this year!

Thank you to St. Paul School and its students for always being there to help before, during, and after the fest, St. Paul Church, our hundreds of wonderful volunteers, our generous sponsors, the Texas Wendish Heritage Society Board, and, of course, our Wendish Fest Planning Committee.

Wendish Fest is truly a team effort, and none of it would be possible without each and every one of you. Whether you helped with a big job or a small one, every bit of time, hard work, and support makes a difference, and I appreciate it more than you know! It takes a whole lot of hands to pull off a day like Wendish Fest, and I am so thankful to be surrounded by such an amazing group of people who care so much about keeping our Wendish heritage alive.

We had Clemens Schmidt, a Sorbian reporter from MDR Serbja, come out to Wendish Fest this year to share our festival with the Wendish community in Germany. Thank you for making the trip to Serbin! We look forward to staying connected with our community overseas through your media coverage.

We can’t wait to see you all at Wendish Fest next year, September 26, 2027! If you have any pictures you would like to share with us, email [email protected].

-Executive Director, Katy Kasper

09/26/2026

We are so excited for Wendish Fest tomorrow, and we couldn't do it without our incredible volunteers! A huge thank you to everyone who is giving their time and energy to help set up, staff the booths, and keep everything running smoothly this weekend. We are so grateful for your hard work and can't wait to see you all tomorrow!

09/26/2026

Texas Monthly's PBS episode on Wendish Fest is now available to watch on YouTube. Check out the video here:

Who are the Texas Wendish?Wends came to Texas in the 1800s for re...