While traders such as potters, coopers, crockery traders and small traders were becoming less important, the demand for entertainment was steadily growing. In 1830, there was a circus, fire-eaters, puppet shows, a riding school, other fairground entertainers, and numerous musicians. The first official mention of the name “Wurstmarkt” (Sausage Fair) dates back to 1832. The name derives from the enormous amount of sausage which was consummated during the fair. In 1879, the Sausage Fair Paper was published for the first time. In this magazine, which was published until 1981, writers, dialect poets, painters and graphic designers presented their view of the Sausage Fair. The so-called “Post-Fair” was for the first time held in 1882; it was at first restricted to Sunday. In 1888 there was a variety theater, photographers, carousels, ball and shooting galleries as well as drinking halls and cookshops. At this time, the circus was the main attraction of the Sausage Fair.

Only in the last century, in 1910, the Sausage Fair was for the first time held on the second and third weekends of September. This date became “official” only in 1913, when the Royal Bavarian State Government gave its approval for the change of date. At the same time, the Pre- and Post-Fair were extended by Saturdays so that the Sausage Fair now lasted for 6 days. In 1926, the Sausage Fair was added another day, a seventh day in 1951 and another day in 1965. Only since 1985, Bad Dürkheim celebrates the party to end all parties with its guests from countries all over the world for nine days (pre-fair Friday is another festival day).

After World War II, during which there was no Sausage Fair, an Autumn Fair was held instead of the Sausage Fair. In 1948, because of the lack of meat, the Sausage Fair was replaced with a Fish Fair where only fish sandwiches and “fish sausage” were sold. On top of that, each visitor was only granted one bottle of wine. Special tickets made sure that these restrictions were properly kept. In that year, 46,650 bottles of wine were sold for 5 Reichsmarks a bottle.

In 1949, the first “regular” postwar Sausage Fair was held. The following time of economic prosperity also had a thriving effect on the Sausage Fair. Between 1949 and 1958 the amount of wine drunk at the Fair almost doubled to 158,673 liters.

From the 1950s on, a large number of attractions was introduced at the Sausage Fair. The “Rotor”, “Menschen kleben an der Wand” (1955), “Jet Spiral”, Bobsleigh run, 3-storey car race, and “Taifun” (1957), “Sputnik” with several space capsules, a new Super-Ferris Wheel and a 6-column-dodgem area (1959) are just some of the various former attractions, which, from the 1960s on, became even bigger, higher and faster.

In 1966, the consummated wine for the first time exceeds the 200,000 liters mark. Now, the Sausage Fair posters officially show it: The Sausage Fair is the largest wine fair of the world.

In 1972, the “Wine Olympics” are held at the Sausage Fair. The opening of the fair is changed in 1973; historical plays allude to the traditional origins of the Sausage Fair.