The Insiders Guide to German Fest Milwaukee

German Fest Milwaukee is a weekend that many people look forward to all year! The 3 day festival starts on Friday at 5pm and lasts until Sunday at 9pm. I've been going to German Fest for 10+ years and I have learned a lot about the weekend. So here is my list of what should be in your German Fest Milwaukee Survival Guide!

Don't Forget Sunscreen (or the umbrella): Keep an eye on the weather and pack appropriately. Pack a sunscreen with a higher SPF because a dirndl blouse burn is like a farmers-tan hopped up on schnapps! Nobody likes that sweetheart neckline for the rest of the summer!

On the flip side... the open air Summer Fest grounds have plenty of tents, but if you want to grab some food, or another beer you may need to venture out from under the shelter, so don't forget an umbrella.  

Hydrate, Hydrate, Hydrate!: Having a water in between beers is key to keeping hydrated during the usually super hot fest. There are drinking fountains (or bubblers as the Wisconsinites call it) outside each of the bathrooms throughout the fest were you can re-fill any of your cups with some fresh Wasser! If you have longer hair... some hair-ties are a must to keep you cool when the humidity of the midwest sets in. You'll also want to make sure your lips stay hydrated with some lip balm... you don't want to have dry cracked lips when you're tasting the Weinbauer Wines.

Keep Cool by the Lake: The Summer Fest grounds are located along the shoreline of beautiful Lake Michigan and it's the best place to cool down. There is always a wonderful fresh breeze off the lake and there are picnic tables along the edge where you can sit and relax. Plus, on Friday and Saturday nights there is a gorgeous fireworks display! However being by the water in the middle of the summer can bring the bugs. I recommend packing some insect repellent. 

Comfortable Footwear: Last but no least... a second pair of shoes in your survival kit may be cumbersome, but when you have a huge throbbing blister, nothing feels better! You'll want to be walking about the entire fest grounds checking out all the great performances, fun activities, and delicious food & drinks . Since the fest is primarily outdoors walking barefoot is really not an option, so when your feet have had enough, sometimes a fresh pair of shoes is all it takes to feel like a million bucks. Click here to download our German Fest To Dos so you don't miss any of the cool stuff. 

Kill That Hangover!: Lots of people have their own hangover remedies, so I'll share mine... 2 Aleve, plenty of water and some kartofflepuffer (potato pancakes). German Fest's potato pancake houses have the BEST potato pancakes ever and nothing helps me get through a Sunday like those for breakfast!

Now that you have the list of things that should be in your survival kit, doesn't mean that you'll actually compile it for yourself... so that's where I come in! I've already done it for you. Click here to get your physical German Fest Survival Kit and then you'll be ready for the weekend!

During German Fest weekend, don't forget to come visit the Rare Dirndl pop-up boutique on the south-east corner of the Marketplatz! See you soon!!!