The Chicago-Lincoln Square May Fest is sponsored by the Karnevalsgesellschaft Rheinische Verein, which was established in 1890 by Germans from the Rheinland. They are also known as the Mardi Gras Society. Each year, on the first weekend in June, Alderman Schulter closes down Lincoln Avenue from the corner of Leland Avenue to the intersection of Western Avenue, and the Mardi Gras Society lays out a great small festival. In the municipal parking lot, they erect a huge tent that holds the maiwein (sweet white wine), beers (maibock, lager, and pilsener), the stage for the polka bands and German 80's cover bands, and the dance floor. On the Lincoln Avenue curve, they place the grills and food tents that contain everything from Thuringer sausage, Bratwurst, and Lieberkase to herring sandwiches, pretzels, and struedel.
Uncle Andre and Aedhan (Andre took the picture we used for Aedhan's Birth Announcement)
My Boys!!
Aedhan Riding on Daddie's Shoulders!
In the other parking lot near Western Avenue, a carnival midway is set-up with kids games and the usual carny stuff. (Aedhan always loves the Rubber Duckie game, where every year he wins an inflatable hammer, which he promptly uses to hit Mommie and Daddie over their heads).
I have included a description of the Deutsche Mai Fest tradition (from the Mardi Gras Society website) below:
"The tradition of May Fest has come down through the ages to signify the arrival of Spring, it is celebrated with a Maibaum. The Maibaum, with its close connections to the pagan and Christian tree of life, is the May Fest’s symbol of fertility and rebirth. Traditionally, the bark of a tall fir or pine tree is removed except for a few feet of treetop. Legend has it that this is done to rid the tree of evil spirits who roam the deep, dark forests of the German hinterlands but hide under the bark of trees in winter. The Maibaum is then garnished with a wreath of fir or pine branches and flowers which is perched just under the treetop. Long, multi colored ribbons stream down from the wreath and around the Maibaum itself, and painted woodcuts depicting the main crafts and local culture of the village are hung as branches down along its sides. Some villages hold a contest to see who can climb the Maibaum, barefoot, the fastest. The prize, pretzels or sausages, is hidden inside the wreath. Though the Maibaum is set up in the village square, it has to be guarded carefully less it is stolen and held for ransom (typically a barrel of beer) by the men of a neighboring village.
Of course, if Spring is in the air, the May Fest also holds the promise of romance as dances around the Maibaum entice those so inclined into the spirit of the season. - (Mike Haas)"
Of course, if Spring is in the air, the May Fest also holds the promise of romance as dances around the Maibaum entice those so inclined into the spirit of the season. - (Mike Haas)"
On the first day of the festival the Alderman and the President of Rheinische Verein hold the official Keg Tapping Ceremony. From that Thursday, until Sunday at 10:00pm, thousands of people will visit the festival. This year four of those participants were Lisa, Paul, Aedhan, and Andre Lucero (a friend of ours from Kinko's).
Uncle Andre and Aedhan (Andre took the picture we used for Aedhan's Birth Announcement)
My Boys!!
Aedhan Riding on Daddie's Shoulders! 
