Maifest returns to South Street for its 13th year on Saturday, May 2, when Brauhaus Schmitz shuts down the 700 block for an all-day, all-ages celebration of German food, beer, music, dancing, and Pennsylvania’s tallest Maypole. The block party runs from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. and is free to attend, with food and drink available pay-as-you-go. Maifest — the German tradition of celebrating the arrival of spring — has become one of Philadelphia’s most reliable warm-weather street festivals, drawing over 10,000 people to South Street and inside Brauhaus Schmitz every first Saturday of May.

Live Music, Dancing, and Competitions at Maifest

Maifest fills the day with a schedule that balances tradition with spectacle. Die Heimatklänge Band, Brauhaus regulars, perform traditional German oompah songs and party hits from 2 to 6 p.m. The United German Hungarian Dance group brings folk dances performed around Philadelphia’s tallest Maypole. At 1 p.m., the Liter Lift Competition pits 20 of the city’s strongest men and women against each other to see who can hold a liter of beer aloft the longest — the winner earns a spot in the national championship in New York City. The annual keg tapping at 1:30 p.m. with owner Doug Hager and his family kicks off the main run of festivities.

German Food and Beer at Maifest

The Maifest food lineup includes a pig roast, bratwurst, pretzels, schnitzel, sauerkraut, potato salad, and more from Brauhaus Schmitz’s kitchen. Ten different German beers are on pour — lagers, wheat beers, crisp pilsners, and cider — and groups can share a Schnapsski. For families, the festival offers face painting, flower crowns, games, and activities alongside the food and music. The combination of a working German beer hall, a closed-off city block, and a festival kitchen running all day creates the kind of street-level eating and drinking experience that most Philadelphia food events only approximate.

VIP Experience at Maifest 2026

Maifest VIP tickets are $100 and include food, drink, beer tokens, a souvenir liter mug, haus swag, and access to the Brauer Bund — a private section with seating, a dedicated bathroom, an extensive German food buffet, and TVs for catching sporting events of the day including the Kentucky Derby, which lands on the same Saturday this year. For anyone trying to split the difference between a street festival and a seated experience, the VIP tier covers both.

Doug Hager framed the event simply — Brauhaus Schmitz proudly brings this authentic German tradition to the heart of South Street for a day of fun and merriment. Thirteen years in, the block party has become a cherished tradition for locals and visitors alike, and it shows no sign of slowing down. Maifest 2026 takes place Saturday, May 2, from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. on the 700 block of South Street. Admission is free. The event is rain or shine. VIP tickets and more information are available at brauhausschmitz.com.

About Post Author

Allan Lane

Philadelphia born and bred, Allan Lane is the Publisher and Editor in Chief of digital magazines. He launched his first publication, SportBikes Inc Magazine in 2010, followed by dosage MAGAZINE in 2019. Recently, Allan launched his third online publication, Club For Man. As a journalist, Allan covers fashion, lifestyle, culture, art, and motorcycles.

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