Featuring delicious cuisine including torte, sauerbraten, kuchen and schnitzel, plenty of beer, polka, a cultural village, and more, the festival will be held July 29-31 at Henry Maier Festival Park. 
German Fest will be open from 3pm to midnight July 29, noon to midnight July 30, and noon to 7pm July 31. Tickets are available at germanfest.com. 

Cultural Village

This year, the Cultural Village highlights Germany’s world-famous and historical cathedrals, among them the Ulm Minster and the Aachen Cathedral, and classic composers, including the “three Bs”–Bach, Beethoven and Brahms. 
• Purchase a postcard, flag and other German keepsakes at the Treasure Nook.
• Visitors can watch a picturesque model train display presented by the Milwaukee chapter of European Train Enthusiasts.
• Observe woodcarvers, blacksmiths and other artisans at work in the Handwerker Arena. 
• Curious about your family tree? The Cultural Village genealogists can help answer questions. 

Entertainment

Enjoy live music, including the 2022 featured band, Schürzenjäger, a Gold and Platinum award-winning musical group hailing from Austria. Other performers include Die Freistadt Alte Kameraden Band and Alpine Blast.

Watch lively folk dancing performances by a number of groups including Young at Heart Dancers, D’Oberlandler, DANK Dancers, and the Danube Cultural Society.

Cuteness alert! The 15th Annual Dachshund Derby will take place on July 30. The racing event starts with the Blessing of the Dachshunds at 1:05pm, followed by the Dachshund Derby and Ribbons at 1:15, and concluding with the Dachshund Costume Contest at 2:30pm. Registration is $15. Visit germanfest.com/product/2022-dachshund-derby-registration/.

The Musikgartenhosts musical and family-friendly fun, including a vintage marionette show by the Murphy Family Theater, performances by the Alpine Echoes Alphorns, Polka Joel Kieckhaefer, and more.

Hours of the festival 

Fri. 3pm-midnight
Sat. Noon-midnight 
Sun. Noon-7pm 

Admission 

$21/3-Day Admission
$12/Advanced Tickets
$15/Adults
$7/Seniors (60+)
$7/Students (with current school ID). 
Children 12 & under are free when accompanied by an adult. 

Promos

Fridays
• $3 admission for everyone, all day
• Free for active military and their immediate family
• Free admission for all Disabled/Physically Challenged with one escort, 3-6pm

Sunday
Free admission noon-3pm at south gate with one jar of peanut butter to support the Hunger Task Force. 

Food & Drink

Whet your appetite with authentic German cuisine, including rollmop, goulasch, strudel, frankfurters, kuchen, knoedel and the classic soft pretzel, from a variety of vendors. 

Enjoy wine-tastings, imported liqueurs and champagne cocktails sponsored by Wein-Bauer Inc at the VIP level of the Generac Power Stage. Hours are 3-9pm July 29, 12-9pm July 30, and 12-7pm July 31.

Sample brews and other adult beverages from local and domestic brewers such as Lakefront Brewery, Sprecher, Leinenkugel’s, and MillerCoors. Or, imbibe spirits such as Stroh Jagartee, Goldwasser and Schlanderer Edelkirsch Cherry Liqueur.    

Activities

See how your beer measures up at the Stein Challenge, the largest German-style-only homebrew competition in the United States, July 30 at 12:15pm in the Sprecher Oktoberfest tent. Visit steinchallenge.com for more information.
• Learn how to play Shafskopf (Sheepshead), a challenging but satisfying German card game which originated in Middle Europe in the mid-to-late 1700s, in the Cultural Pavilion. Rounds begin every half hour and run from 3:30-9:30pm July 29, 12:30-9:30pm July 30, and 12:30-6:30pm July 31. Rounds are $3, or $5 for two rounds.