Maifest Chicago
This festival has wrapped for 2026 — it typically returns May 2027.
Next edition · 2027
2027 dates: not announced yet. Maifest Chicago typically returns in May. We read the organiser's site and update this page when dates are confirmed; what follows is the record of 2026.
Free three-day German spring festival in Lincoln Square: maypole, keg tapping, Mai Queen crowning, German and American bands, and German food and beer for purchase.
- Dates: May 29–31, 2026
- Where: Lincoln Square plaza (Lincoln & Western)
- Neighborhood: Lincoln Square
- Cost: Free
How it was
This year's edition is over — the practical notes below are kept as the record of 2026.
What to expect
Chicago's German community welcomes spring the way villages in Germany do, around a decorated maypole. The Maifest Committee runs two stages at Lincoln Avenue and Western Avenue: in 2026 the Friday opening had the Mai Queen crowning and the president's keg tapping at 8 p.m., Saturday ran from noon, and Sunday carried the ethnic program of club dance groups from 1:30 p.m. German and American food and beer are sold on site; admission is free and all ages are welcome.
Transit
The fest sits on the Lincoln Square plaza at Lincoln and Western, the block the organiser describes as its original home beside the CTA Western Brown Line station (the 2024 edition moved temporarily during the station's plaza construction).
Family-friendly
The organiser calls it open to all ages; Sunday afternoon's ethnic program, with the youth dance groups, is the most family-oriented stretch.
History
Maifest is the traditional German celebration of the arrival of spring. The Chicago fest is run by the Maifest Committee, a 501(c)(3) that promotes Chicago's German heritage, and benefits German-American clubs including the Rheinischer Verein, the American Aid Society and the Donauschwaben youth group.
Local tips
- Friday's keg tapping and Mai Queen crowning (8 p.m. in 2026) is the ceremonial moment.
- Sunday afternoon is the club dance groups; Saturday night is the party bands.
- It's a free fest with paid food and beer, so bring a card; the stages run to 10 p.m.
Frequently asked questions
When is Maifest Chicago 2027?
The organiser has not announced 2027 dates yet. Maifest Chicago typically returns in May; this page is updated when dates are confirmed.
Is Maifest Chicago free?
Yes. The organiser lists admission as free and open to all ages; food and beer are for purchase.
Where is it held?
On the Lincoln Square plaza at Lincoln Avenue and Western Avenue, which the organiser calls its original home.
What were the 2026 hours?
Stages ran Friday 5:30–10 p.m., Saturday noon–10 p.m. and Sunday 1–10 p.m., per the organiser's 2026 schedule.