Lincoln Square has become one of my favorite neighborhoods since moving to Chicago and coming to this festival on a summer (albeit very rainy) night, made me love this neighborhood even more. This was my first time to Maifest. I noticed immediately upon arriving, that everyone was having a good time and the bands located underneath the tents, I am sure contributed to the festive mood. I like the organization of having to buy tickets for beverage and food prior, and then having everything centralized under one main tent. While it rained more than it did not, I was surrounded by great friends and we had a really great time! Beer comes in a souvenir mug, where domestic and imported beer is offered. Refills are a dollar less, but the mugs are a good size so you don't have to fee like you are running back and forth to the tents. I only had a pretzel which was blah, but I also had a taste of the German potato salad, which was very good. The L train lets off right in the heart of the festival and walking back and forth from my car, I saw a constant swam of cabs, so transportation to the festival should not be an issue. read more

I still have a great time every year. Though the grounds were somewhat crowded, the occasional shower thinned things out nicely. It wasn't overly hot or wet, and the post-shower gently breeze was quite refreshing. OK, what's with the PIERCING sound level in the main tent? It's been like that for a few years in a row now. Turn the volume down just a bit! Seriously. We arrived in the late afternoon to secure seats a few years in a row now, and each time we couldn't take the eardrum-shattering loudness for more than 30 minutes, even after a liter of bier in us! The usual seat battle ensued. People take seats from the main tent and take them outside for this reason. The clutter makes it hard to get around. Food was great, as usual--not overly authentic, but certainly not mass-produced hotdogs and coleslaw. Watch out for the festbier. The Hoffbrau really sneaks up on you. read more

I wasn't impressed. With only 2 beers one of which was PBR there really wasn't much by the options. There were American carnival games. There was only 1 booth with merchandise and it wasn't really cool German made things it was just shirts and flags. The food was limited as well no spaetzle, potato pancakes or schnitzels, just sausages. Seemed to be more about people who identify as German American getting together to drink then actually about the culture of Germany. The German festivals in Indianapolis and Atlanta were much better. read more

What a clusterscrew of epic proportions! Ok, it's free (just like every other festival in Chicago that uses public streets) and the beer comes in large steins. HOWEVER, how can a festival with this many people only be contained in a 1 block radius? Wouldn't it behoove the organizers to extend the festival to another block? Add another beer tent? Add another food tent? Or, just stop letting people in. read more

This was a great festival until they stoped selling Maibock beer about 5 years ago. How do you have a Maifest festival without selling maibock beer? That's just like having octoberfest without octoberfest beer! Don't bother with this water down festival. Plenty of other places you can go to get the real thing! read more

Ok, I'm going to write a Yelp sandwich -- one good thing, some "growth areas," and then another good thing. This festival is conveniently located near public transportation. Now the growth areas. The festival has more people per square foot than the pregnant OctaMom. Especially in the tent areas, you will find yourself in such cramped quarters that once you emerge, you will be immediately qualified to captain a U-boat. Food and drink required tickets. I had a partially-cooked bratwurst sandwich, whose buns were so hard that I decided to save one in case I ever need to drill for oil. There are only two types of beer in two sizes, but refills are a couple of bucks cheaper. You can even use your plastic cups from the year before, although, if you're like me, those probably ended up in the trash right after you got them, along with those parking tickets and jury summons. Of course, you may be the kind that keeps stuff. You might still be wearing that wedding dress from when you got left high and dry at the alter, or that football jersey from the 1982 championship game. If only coach had put you in! Back to the festival. There was a German band at the north end of the festival -- the Polkaholics. Get it? They're like alcoholics, but they're addicted to polka! And like alcoholics, what is coming out of their mouths doesn't make much sense and their families are deeply ashamed of them. Interestingly the crowd was most drawn to a more traditional band in the main tent. They became raucous when the band played "Sweet Caroline." Come on, MayFest! At least do a German rendition of this song -- "Sweet Hans" or something equally inspiring. Oh yeah, the other good thing. Right, right. Admission, unlike Poland between 1939 and 1945, is free. See you at OktoberFest! read more

One of my favorite fests of the year (the other being German-American Fest ha!) Great people watching, music, and beer (and don't forget to bring an old stein for the discount :) Yes, it gets crowded and obnoxious as the night wears on. The tickets and beer lines can get long. Best to get there before it gets packed so that you're blurred just enough to enjoy the crowd. Friday nights are for the adults, Sunday afternoons we always bring the kids and have a great time. read more

Went this year on Sunday. Had a few of the small HBs then a dinner what a great opener for the summer

It was my first time at Mayfest and I wasn't impressed. Ok, it's probably not fair that it was 90+ degrees with what felt like a million people around me, but I was not happy. The lines were extremely long, for both tickets and beer. My whole experience in a nutshell was standing in a line. I'm sure a lot of people had fun due to the live music and on-site games, but I didn't get to enjoy any of that. Eh, I might skip it next year. read more

Pretty mundane stuff. Really, really crowded. 25 min. wait on line for beer. Dry as leather Wienerschnitzel. Thank goodness the beer was both good and cold. read more

It's not quite as great as Oktoberfest in the fall, but what's not to like?...large beers, thuringers, music, and people from all walks. Even a small midway to play games. Great times. And if you save your mug, you can bring it back every year and just pay for a refill. Nice! read more

I think Mayfest is officially my favorite street fest. The beer was nice and cold, we never waited in line for drinks or food. There is no cover charge. It's a nice crowd, but definitely pulls in all ages It's not your typical street fest that you would find in Lincoln Park or Wrigleyville that's just filled with 20 somethings. Perhaps this is why I like it. By the evening though all the families are gone and it does get a little crazier. read more

Mayfest is a great time if you know how to 1) handle the German beer (it has higher alcohol content), and 2) come earlier in the day (before 7pm) when it is not so busy that getting a beer or meal takes a half an hour. Come prepared to be in a crowd and around lots of drunk people and you will have a fun time. read more

TEN DOLLARS to get in here!!!! that is ridicules! its a very small festival and the food/drinks are overpriced. $5.00 for a side of fries. $7.00 for a cheeseburger. $7.00 for ONE kabob!! The had hamburger helper there......enough said. NOT WORTH IT! nothing unique about this festival. read more

Get over yourselves, Mayfest/Octoberfest might be crowded but it is a street fest, what do you expect. The food is great, the crowd is very friendly and the beverages are very tall!! The only bad thing I can say about the fest is that the prices have gone up a lot over the last couple years. If you do not like crowds stay home!!! read more

the food smells better than it tastes. the desserts are yummy, though. the lines are too damn long. friday night was ridiculous. sunday not too bad. we had to go back to spend our leftover tickets. it is difficult to find a place to sit, and when you finally do, the table is pretty much disgusting because of all the beer spilled on it. or if you're just standing, be prepared to have beer spilled on you. despite all that, we go to this fest every year. what can i say, i like the 'hood. and since it is the beginning of summer i am not all fested out yet, so i'm just anxious to enjoy the newly warm weather by drinking a beer outside. which is pretty much what this fest is all about. there is not much else to do than see how quickly you can get to the bottom of your liter of beer so it doesn't get warm. read more

A street fest my German ancestors would be proud to attend. Beer, sausage and pretzelor maybe beer brat and kraut. Either way you can't go wrong. Maifest is about nothing more than good times had with good friends, and celebrating the start of summer. The place is typically packed (and it would behoove the city to expand onto Lincoln) but most lines move quickly. Gather some friends, put on your polka duds and celebrate life!! read more

Partner and I stopped by for a couple of hours this afternoon. It was fun. We mostly sat in the beer hall tent and people watched. It's a simple straightforward family friendly street festival with German sensibilities. read more

My first experience at Mayfest this weekend, and I had never really been to Lincoln Square, but it's a really cute area. It was pretty crowded, but they have lots of lines for beer & I think using tickets instead of having to count out cash helps it move faster. It is kind of expensive 10 tickets ($10) for a very large PBR or 12 for Hofbrau (less to refill the souvenir cup) but it will get the job done! read more

Lincoln Square Mayfest is a great time - good music, great German food and beer - you can't beat it. There is not a cover charge to enter the festival but the food prices are a bit high, but you are supporting the local neighborhood - so it's all good. read more

Big Ass Beers (Hofbrau, yesssss!), brats, and pretzels. YUM. Oh, AND polka music. Had a blast in 2012, can't wait to come back.

Not sure why everyone's getting so negative, a little planning and you can have a great time. Friday and Saturday night are going to be drunk fests with younger crowds turning it up a notch. If you want a more low key experience come during the day especially on Sunday. I really enjoyed Saturday evening and Sunday afternoon, both were different experiences from the crowd mix. We had a blast and the food and beer were plentiful, not sure who the hell wants a herring sandwich and a beer but to each his own I guess. Just a great festival in a great neighborhood. read more

I got to Mayfest around 1:30 on Saturday afternoon. It was overcast which is why there were not many people there. My friend and I got two large plastic steins, that you get to keep, full of hofbrau beer for 12 tickets or 12 bucks. The other option was pabst?? for 10 tickets. There were no veinersneitzels which was disappointing and the brats were soggy and tasteless, but maybe thats how the germans like em. The music was german polka music inside the tent and an assortment of weird local bands on the main outside stage. Once the weather cleared up around 4 Mayfest was packed. I was already sauced up by then and I was really digging the atmosphere and women. Overall a great festival that revolves around good beer. I'll be back next year. read more

I am proud to be involved in the Chicago German Community. Yes, I hear all the gripes on beer selection from you fellow yelpers and complaints about the long lines, but please be patient as the money you spends goes to support German language education and fund the many German - American cultural events Dankhaus puts on. I would consider the beer drinking money you spend to be going to a good cause. I have suggested many times to the Dankhaus that we should over more beer than just HB and Pabst as we offer many different kind of beers at Dankhaus Cultural events. Perhaps Mayfest 2013 will be the year for a different selection of beers such as Warsteiner or Spaten. In Germany, the folk fests have many beers to choose from. I think Mayfest should emulate this. Lastly the food is traditional German. The desserts are sourced from the Austrian Bakery on Clark Street. The pretzels are traditional Bavarian. If interested or you guys have feedback, please e-mail or write DankHaus. read more

This year was my first Mayfest and yes, I'm a fan. The most important thing to notice is how much the reviews vary. Know who you are and what you want from Mayfest and plan accordingly. If you're: -Looking to booze efficiently: do not come on Saturday night because the wait for a beer will be 30+ mintues, not counting the lines to buy tickets before you can wait in line to buy beer. -A parent toting kids: go as early as you can. The family-friendliness ends around 7pm on Saturday anyway, and after that your stroller just makes the crowds worse. -Going to party your lederhosen off: Saturday's your night! You'll be in good company. Buy tickets first to save time when you need to buy your next Boot. And begin drinking in the late afternoon so you aren't fighting long beer lines to start your buzz later on. -Looking to people watch: (the people watching is fabulous) I suggest volunteering. I worked the Chamber of Commerce tent from 3:30-7pm on Saturday and it was the best idea ever. You can drink while you work, you get a place in the shade where you won't be run over by strollers or drunks, and you help out the Chamber folks too. Everyone wins! Sure, it's really crowded. Most street fests are in Chicago. Don't say you weren't warned. There is no variety to the beer and food. Two beer choices and maybe 4 German things to eat. This isn't the taste of Chicago folks. BUT, if you head to Mayfest ready to be part of a fun-and-polka-loving crowd, you'll have a great time! read more

Might be my expectations were too high or I am just being unfair; but hey, if you attend the German-American festival in Nuremberg, Germany, the burgers et al are reminiscent of those back in the US and like 80% of the crowd speak English. Hoping to enjoy a lil bit of the flair from the "Heimat", I dragged my mum, little niece and gf to the Maifest in Lincoln square (btw, traditionally in Germany the fest is celebrated on the 1st of May or the first weekend of May with the mandatory erection of a "Maibaum", but let's not be pedantic). I was almost fooled; the men looking regal in their "Lederhosen", (too bad I left mine back in Munich I thought), the smell of "Bratwurst" and "Leberkaese" in the air, Bavarian music, Barkers doing their thing. I ignored the riotous crowd; dang, I was already in Deutsch mode. I tried to speak German to the Lederhosen wearers, and was greeted with headshakes. I hoped the food would make up for the language deficiency and after queuing for like 20 minutes, I got "Bratwurst" that would cause a revolution were it sold in Germany, "Bretz'n" the texture and flavor of the stone David used to bring down Goliath. The beer was ok, though I am not much of a cicerone. If you ignore the crazy crowd and bad food it might be a nice way of celebrating the advent of summer. read more

Crowded, only one food vendor, huge lines for food and drinks...

I have gone the last 2 years with my wife and daughter who is now almost 3 and we all love it . Everyone is cool and have never had any problem with people around my daughter she loves it since she gets to wear her Dirndl around. Yes there are drunk people but like the other poster said it's a street fest and especially since everybody has been shut in for the winter usually the first good fest brings the drunks out but most are harmless unless you go late at night . Will be there this year ... read more

What's not to love about German beer on tap, sausages and all the fantastic people-watching? Hands down, the best fest in Chicago.

I absolutely love Mayfest. This year at Mayfest instead of going to have fun, I had to work the event. Either way though it is always a great time. The music is my favorite part of the fest. Nothing beats great German music and German beer. Yes, the beer is overpriced, but what do you expect for a festival. The only downside to Mayfest is that it gets really crowded. You will find yourself waiting in long lines just to get a beer. read more