Maifest
Maifest has been an annual festival brought to you by the Maifest Committee, President Joe Matuschka and Vice President Joe Bradtke. Special thanks go to 47th Ward Alderman Matt Martin.
Admission to Maifest Chicago is FREE and open to all ages. Taking place in Lincoln Square, Chicago’s original German neighborhood. Outstanding German and American food and beer are available for purchase. German and American bands provide entertainment throughout the fest.
Mayfest Chicago is a 501(c)(3) organization founded to promote Chicago's German heritage. The four-day fest benefits German-American organizations including The Rheinischer Verein, St. Hubertus Jagd Club, the American Aid Society, the Donauschwaben Youth Group, Edelweiss Trachten Verein, D’Lustigen Holzhacker Buam, Egerlander Dance Group, Dank Haus and others.
Maifest is the traditional German celebration of the arrival of spring. Maifest is still celebrated throughout Germany with the maypole (maibaum) decorated to show off the history and crafts of the local village or town.
Maifest, like Octoberfest, has now become a popular celebration throughout the world. Chicago's German community welcomes all to their Maifest in Lincoln Square; the heart of Chicago's German Community.
Learn about the German-American Organizations involved in Maifest Chicago Festival.
PROST!
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PROST! •
Congratulations to the 2024 Mai Queen, Marguerite Schubert
Marguerite has been a member of the Chicago German Community since joining the American Aid Society Kindergruppe at the age of 3. She has always loved singing, folk dancing, and being German.
After Kindergruppe, Marguerite joined the Jugendgruppe, and then Rheinischer Verein Amazonen.
With the American Aid Society she traveled to Germany, Austria and Hungary last summer. The club performed in Speyer, Spaichingen, Munchen and many more towns.
Marguerite is a Junior at Woodstock High School on the Honor Roll, a member of the Cheerleading Team, National Honor Society (NHS), and studying German. She is participating in a German Exchange Program hosting a girl from Germany for 2 weeks, and living with her family for 3 weeks this summer.
Congratulations Marguerite!
Co-MC of 2024 Maifest,
Gabi Wendling Wolf
2023 Mai Queen
Gabi grew up in the German-American community of Chicago. A junior at Saint Viator High School, Gabi is active in various organizations, such as the American Aid Society, Rheinischer Verein, DANK Chicago, and the Chicago Donauschwaben. Gabi dances with the Rheinischer Amazonen and the American Aid Society Jugendgruppe, where she is the youth group secretary. She is also a German language teacher assistant at DANK Chicago. Gabi received the Deutsche Sprachdiplom II and Seal of Biliteracy for German.
