The Oldest German Festival In Missouri Is Right Around The Corner, And Here’s Why You Need To Go
Maifest is the traditional German celebration of the arrival of spring. Missouri has many areas that a rich in German history and ancestry. The 66th Annual Maifest celebration will once again be held in Hermann, which is a popular Missouri wine destination. Dance around the maypole, enjoy sausages, sip wine, and soak up the sun May 18th through 20th in true German fashion!
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Celebrate spring in Hermann at the 66th Annual Maifest. Take the Amtrak from Kansas City or St. Louis and join in on the spring festivities.
Of course there will be dancing around the maypole. Maypoles are used across Europe to celebrate folk festivals. In Germany, the tradition of erecting and celebrating around the maypole dates back to the 16th century.
Musicians will play authentic German folk songs that will put you in a celebratory mood. This robust music will get you up and out of your seat all weekend long.
All weekend long you can catch craft demonstrations, listen to live music, enjoy the maypole dancers, and sample Maiwein. Maiwein is a traditional wine drank during the Maifest celebrations. This white wine is flavored with fresh Waldmeister, better known to Americans as sweet woodruff.
This year the maypole festivities start at 11 a.m. on Saturday at Fourth and Schiller Streets. On Sunday, the Maifest parade will begin at 1 p.m. The parade will be starting at 1st and Gutenberg and ending on Washington Street at the Upper City Park.
On Saturday, let your kiddos go wild at the free inflatable adventure park. Inflatables will be located at the Upper City park at 11th and Washington Streets.
You can also find live entertainment, food and a beer garden Friday and Saturday at the Upper City Park. There is no cover to enter the beer garden and the party goes until 11 p.m. each night.
Celebrate spring, at the oldest German festival in Missouri this weekend at the Hermann Maifest. Many of the planned events and activities throughout the weekend are free but we would advise bringing some spending money for food, drinks, and vendors.
For an itinerary and description of the weekend's events, check out their website here. The Hermann visitor's center is a great place to start your weekend, and it can be found at 150 Market St., Hermann.
Have you been to the Hermann Maifest? Tell us about your experience in the comments below.
Liz is a Missouri native with a B.A. in English from Mizzou and a M.A. in Non-Profit Administration from Lindenwood University. She works for a STL metro-area community college and enjoys writing, traveling, and indoor cycling. Her true passion is forcing her encyclopedic knowledge of Missouri facts on uninterested strangers from across the globe!
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