Maifest

{{Short description|Traditional German spring festival}}

Maifest (or Mayfest in English) is the traditional German celebration of the arrival of spring. Maifest is still celebrated throughout Germany with the maibaum (maypole) decorated to show off the history and crafts of the town.

Maifest, similar to Oktoberfest, has now become a popular celebration throughout the world. Several communities in the United States celebrate Maifest yearly. It has been celebrated in Cincinnati, Ohio, since 1873.{{cite book | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=awUmPFd2nf4C&q=steven%20rolfes&pg=PA27 | title=German Cincinnati Revisited | publisher=Arcadia Publishing | date=Aug 22, 2011 | accessdate=2013-05-21 | author=Tolzmann, Don Heinrich | pages=27| isbn=9780738583020 }}

Brenham, Texas, has celebrated Maifest since 1880.{{cite web |title=The Brenham Maifest Historical Marker |url=https://www.hmdb.org/m.asp?m=165375 |website=www.hmdb.org |publisher=The Historical Marker Database |access-date=1 June 2022 |language=en}} Over the years, the celebration has become a community-wide tradition, drawing spectators and participants from all parts of the community.{{cite news |title=Coronations to highlight annual Maifest |url=http://www.brenhambanner.com/news/coronations-to-highlight-annual-maifest/article_a2693374-e3fa-5d32-b42d-7a9065eb7a5e.html |access-date=1 June 2022 |work=Brenham Banner-Press |date=5 May 2022 |language=en}} The beginning of Maifest is treated as a town holiday, with Brenham ISD releasing students early on the Friday before.{{cite web |title=Brenham ISD 2021-2022 Instructional Calendar |url=https://www.brenhamisd.net/upload/page/0172/2021-2022%20Instructional%20Calendar%20January.pdf |access-date=1 June 2022 |publisher=Brenham Independent School District}}

The town of Hermann, Missouri, also celebrates Maifest, on the third weekend of May.{{Citation needed|date=June 2022}}

Maifest is also a month-long festival in the town of Leavenworth, Washington, a tourist town based on a bavarian village{{Cite web |last=Stoller |first=Jessica |title=Maifest |url=https://leavenworth.org/maifest/ |access-date=2024-05-21 |website=Leavenworth Washington |language=en-US}}