Water Works Park • Des Moines, IA • May 16 – 17, 2026

Maifest at Des Moines Biergarten:

bier, music, games, family-friendly, free.

Come celebrate the official start of Des Moines Biergarten season with a Maifest weekend of bier, polka, pretzels, flowers and more. The first annual Maifest at the Des Moines Biergarten is a family celebration of spring and the start of a new season. The event includes a day full of music including Maypole dancing performances from the Amana Colony Dancers, as well as kids activities, contests, food vendors and of course your favorite German biers. 

SATURDAY

5/16

11:30am-9pm

11:30 am - Face Painting and Balloon Artist (Until 8:00 pm)

12:00 pm - Betrucken Messing (Live Music Until 1:30 pm))

1:30 pm - Amana Maipole Dancers

2:00 pm - Schnitzel Brothers Bier Band (Live Music Until 5:00 pm)

3:00 pm - Amana Maipole Dancers

4:00 pm - Stein Holding Contests

5:00 pm - Amana Maipole Dancers 

5:30 pm - Polka Police (Live Music Until 8:00 pm)

7:00 pm - Stein Holding Contests

SUNDAY

5/17

11:30am-8pm

11:30 am - Face Painting and Balloon Artist (Until 6:00 pm)

12:00 pm - New Jolly German Band (Live Music Until 2:00 pm) 

1:00 pm - Bingo by The Dealt Hand

2:00 pm - Stein Holding Contests

2:30 pm - Malek Fisherman Band (Live Music Until 5:00pm)

4:00 pm - Stein Holding Contests

ALL WEEKEND

Face Painting

Balloon Artist

Yard Games

Giant Connect Four

Giant Beer Pong

Sack Races

FOOD

Vendors

Strudl House

Karam’s Mediterranean

Local Cow Ice Cream

Sweet Treats German Roasted Nuts

Directions ➡