Due to the global pandemic, many of the 175th Anniversary Celebration events were postponed in 2020 to this year. New Braunfels celebrates anniversaries in a big way every 25 years since 1870. The city was founded by a German Prince in 1845.
The only other time the anniversary events were postponed was in 1945 due to WWII. In 1946 when the local troops were all home, a grand parade and celebration in Landa Park was held. Prior to the shutdown last March 2020, funds had been raised (nearly $1 million) privately to pay for the signature project, two gateway monuments on I-35 (one northbound and one southbound) which were built and erected in March, a historic picture book was published, and promotional items were created and sold.
Kicking off the remaining events is the Patriotic Parade Saturday, July 3 downtown in conjunction with the Sophienburg Museum & Archives, enhanced fireworks July 4th, a River Parade on Landa Lake Sept. 4, a Founder’s Gala Oct. 15 at Rockin’ R, and a Community Breakfast in Landa Park November 14th along with a Community Blessing and a new time capsule burial the same day.
The Chamber of Commerce was designated the sponsoring entity and organizer of the 175th by the City Council in 2016. Five years in the planning, the cumulation of the events promise to be spectacular and fitting. The Chamber was also the sponsoring and organizing entity of past celebrations in 1995, 1970, 1946, and 1920.