5/12/2023 -- Maifest

Buffalo Creek Brewing in Long Grove, IL welcomes in May with Maifest, May 12 and 13.

Buffalo Creek Brewing will welcome in the month of May with spring’s answer to Oktoberfest. On May 12 (noon to 11 pm) and 13 (11 am to 11 pm), the authentic German brewery in historic downtown Long Grove will host its inaugural Maifest (pronounced my-fest) and usher in the long-awaited spring season like they do in Germany and Austria. Besides the ancient rite of dancing around the maypole, BCB’s 2-acre biergarten will come alive with blooming flowers and the sights and sounds of the budding spring season, including live music, German games, new warm-weather beer releases and a special small batch tent, food trucks, and more. Bavaria’s fall festival may get all the attention, but Maifest is awesome too, and with better weather!

Although oompah bands, steins of lager, and men in lederhosen under big tents seem synonymous with Oktoberfest, Maifest is just as delicious and fun, as it welcomes in the warm weather season and the merry month of May. On Friday, a live band will rock the BCB main stage before the biergarten is transformed into a dazzling outdoor club experience on Saturday led by an electrifying DJ. During the two-day free fest, Mike will be releasing thirst-quenching warm-weather beers that he’ll feature at the brewery throughout the spring-summer season like his ever-popular Hefeweizen called Muttersholtz and a rare version of his Russian Imperial called Hallows aged in rum barrels with coconut. The small batch beer tent will be an area where guests can participate in meet-and-greets with the brewer and sample his latest experimental beers. In addition to authentic German jumbo soft pretzels, some of the area’s most renowned food trucks will be rolling through as well, including Happy Lobster on Friday and Mario’s Cart on Saturday.

Partial proceeds from the festival will benefit YouthBuild Lake County, a local non-profit organization, in support of their vision to see self-sufficient young adults thriving and improving their communities.