My very first time here was for the August 2024 session. I made it a point to come back for the 2025 June and July events. Holy cow!...this is one of my happy places for sure!!! The food is excellent (especially considering how many people they're feeding), some of the beer taps change from year to year from what I can tell, but it's always good stuff....they're not serving the dregs here...just excellent German beer and some other non-beer libations. The people here are fantastic!...the staff, the patrons...everyone's happy. It's summer perfection IMO. You'll need cash and kind of a lot o fit if you're gonna do it up right, but $50-60 per person should get you anything you'll want including a t-shirt to the show ; ) read more

I never heard of this place until recently. My sister is really into Oktoberfest type vibes - oompah bands, lederhosen and whatnot. Whatnot usually means drinking lots of lager, by the bucket here. Neither of us drink but hey, whatever. I definitely needed Google Maps to find this park out in the boonies near Ann Arbor. There's nothing in the way of fanfare announcing it either. Parking is an adventure in a sprawling, sometimes lumpy dirt lot with neon vest clad attendants directing you where to bring in your chariot. At least we got there early and didn't have to walk a country mile. My brother-in-law tells me that massive lot often maxes out and people are stuck parking on the dirt shoulder of a two lane road and hoofing it for great distances. Shades of back in the 90s when I went to Lollapalooza at Milan Dragway. Ten bucks to get in is reasonable enough. Cash only in 2025 probably won't win them a lot of fans so be ready for that. There was barely any line when we walked up and by the time we were getting back to our table with food it was snaking way down the walkway. I'm not a huge fan of ticket systems for food and beverage sales as it's always a challenge to utilize the exact amount of tickets you bought and not be on the hook with leftovers. Fortunately my dad and I departed long before close and a bunch of people my sister invited joined us so we gifted our tickets to the big table of revelers. Who knows how close they got to maximizing the ticket stash at the end of the night. I'm only seeing now on here that apparently you can cash in your remaining tickets before you leave. Don't recall signage for that. Unspent tickets really boost profits... I had a bratwurst, a knockwurst, a water, a cola and an order of spaetzle. The wursts weren't the worst, but not the best I've had either. I don't think I've ever had spaetzle - a German egg noodle dish - before and don't know what the standard for it is but I'm going to hold with the reviewer who wrote that's it's bland. I wasn't expecting Pad Thai or anything but a give the spaetzle a big yawn. We didn't catch as much oompah music as I would have liked - there was a long intermission between sets for much of our visit but we did hear a significant amount. Walking up to the stage it was nothing but kids and parents dancing in the mid-afternoon. I'm sure that demographic changes drastically as the sun sets and nightfall sets in. The move here is to bring a big tablecloth and claim a picnic table as they get sparser and further away from the action as the day wears on. The wooded areas on the periphery actually seem really pleasant though. They have games like cornhole and foosball which again, seemed to be commandeered solely by kids in the sunlight hours. A couple basic carnival rides would do wonders for enhancing the festive atmosphere but I'm not sure that feasible given German Park's extremely limited operating schedule. It's open a whopping 3 days a year - unless you wanna rent the place out for a private event. All three days are in the summer, too. No Oktoberfest. I know weather can be pretty questionable around that time of the year but Oktoberfest people seem like a pretty hardy lot. Maybe they could run it with a rain day provision? No Oktoberfest in place like this is just baffling to me. read more

German Park - This place must be lit for Oktoberfest. Wait... they're not open Oktoberfest - Parks Near Me - Ann Arbor, Michigan

Our group of 4 thought a trip to German park would be a fun way to celebrate a birthday. Beforehand we looked up the menu/prices on website and attempted to figure out what time the band started. While we found inaccurate prices (determined later) on the site, we could find no mention of the bands started time. We decided to go at 6:30 for dinner and beers. We donned our best Octoberfest wear , grabbed our refillable GP beer bucket and headed out. Upon arrival the band was already winding down. We approached the gate and Wow, the attendant ( middle-aged woman, brunette) pointed at our refillable EMPTY bucket and said so rudely "you can't bring THAT in". What? We asked. It's clean.... She assured us we could get another one inside. I Know this, if we BUY another which is what we were trying to avoid$. We were forced to trek back to the car to leave it along with my friends water bottle. We should have left right then. Upon admitting us to the park we had to pay an entry fee of 10$ per person. Unfortunately the band had already finished so our first impression was disappointing. Next up, calculate how many tickets to buy which is when we noticed the prices for food and drink were inconsistent with the website. On our first trip to the ticket booth we were shortchanged by $5. We called her on it and made sure to watch our change closely for future exchanges. The German dinner was okay, the men liked it the most. We thought it was basically a big plate of brown and we could have done way better at Metzgers for $200. Yes, plan on $50 per person with admission, dinner, beer& bucket. Pretzels are available but the price varies based on who you buy it from. It was fun to see other guests in lederhosen and kids dressed up as well. There was plenty of shade and seating however the atmosphere of moldy umbrellas was gross, especially the white Weiss beer ones by the food tent. Overall it was a nice day but we were pretty underwhelmed considering the cost and the way we were treated initially. We felt it was a cash grab and if the idea comes up again later this summer (nein ,nein,nein!)you can bet we will wind up at Metzgers where we can have beer in a giant glass boot and better food choices and no cover charge. Prost read more

If you are looking for some good wholesome family fun for a summer afternoon - make your way to this event every last Saturday of June, July, and August. It's a community outdoor event that is very well run. Arrive early, get a table, save your bucket for refills, be respectful, have fun. We bring cards and boardgames. Be patient but most of all, have fun! The pavilion fills the fastest, as that is where you can see the music but you can hear it from anywhere in the park. Parking is plentiful. Just be patient and respectful. Everyone will have fun! read more

On a warm summer night, you might be lucky enough for the German Park to be open for their monthly picnic. Located north of Ann Arbor in a sweeping outdoor space, there's a picnic night the last Saturday every month in the summer. A group of friends and I decided to meet up there to check the event out, and we may just decide to go back next month if we get the itch! Pro tip: bring cash. Although there are ATMs on site, you'll need cash for admission ($5) and tickets for food and drinks. The guys shared a bucket of German beer ($17 for 64 oz; $15 for domestic beer), and while wine is available, I opted for lemonade since I was chauffeuring. On the note of driving, parking is ample in the adjacent gravel lot. Food is tasty and a great value for the price. I got a bratwurst and went back up for a cookie later, but you can also get sides of roasted potatoes, Spaetzle, and Sauerkraut. There are also Knockwurst and hot dogs for those who prefer. Music plays throughout the night, easily heard from the picnic tables all around, a guitar and accordion player wandered like minstrels among the tables to play some traditional songs, and a few times the "Trachtengtuppe" danced some traditional dances. As the sun set and the evening wound down, we headed home happy with the glow of music, friends, and a time well spent. I hope that you'll feel the same way after you visit next month! read more

A perfect summer setting spent with good friends and good food. The events here are well organized and perfect for all ages. It was just a fun summer day enjoyed by all. read more

German Park - Parks Near Me - Ann Arbor, Michigan

German Park makes for a great biergarten, with lots of trees, picnic tables, and a pavilion where there are dance performances every so often. Be sure to check the website before you go because German Park is open to the public for just three days every summer. We bought buckets of German beers on tap like Spaten Optimator and I forget what else, and just basked in the sunshine and enjoyed the afternoon. Don't throw away the plastic bucket when you're done with your first round. You can get the bucket refilled for cheaper than what you paid earlier for the bucket + beer inside. The only reason I'm taking one star off is the food. You can't bring your own (OK, fair enough) but the food is awful, from the extremely long food line, to the lackluster bratwursts, to the limp excuse for spaetzle. It's cafeteria-quality German food. read more

German Park - Parks Near Me - Ann Arbor, Michigan

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Great way to spend a summer evening: beer, brats, and polka in the woods. And really, an outing to GP is what you make of it. At tables around us, some families were playing cards, and children were running about playing frisbee. There's the bandshell if you want to dance, though the crowd gets a bit thick around that, and in any of the covered eating areas. But, the smoking section (which actually had very few smokers) toward the rear of the property, is well shaded. GP attracts throngs of people, and lines at the front gate and at the food building can get long, though at least the food line moves quickly. Beer lines are blessedly short (a few Michigan craft beers, plus some excellent imports--love the Spaten dopplebock--and couple of mower beers on tap), and there are wagons scattered around serving hot dogs and brats, so if you just want a sausage, you can pick one up quickly. The food is as good as it needs to be. Mainly you come here to celebrate summer, and to take part in an Ann Arbor tradition that goes back almost 80 years. read more

Nice time, great food. Music was also a good balance. Glad I tried it, good for family or friends.

How'd I live my whole life in Ann Arbor and never make it to German Park until now?!? What a fantastic oasis!!! German Park is located on the far northeast side of town, definitely off the beaten path. On the last Saturday of June/July/August there is an all day festival featuring German food, music, and, of course, beer. Check the website for the dates. The "park" is a huge outdoor space with tons of trees and picnic tables. People purchase beer by the cup ($4) or bucket ($14), food is also available, although the lines were quite long when we were there and I heard the fare wasn't so veggie friendly, so I passed. Parking is free, admission to the festival is $5. It's a great time, tons of people seem to spend hours up there, hanging out at picnic tables, playing cards, and mingling with friends. BOTTOM LINE: Loved it! Totally beats the smoky bar scene, plus it's something different!! I would definitely make an effort to head to German Park again if I happen to be in town on one of the festival days. read more

This event made me want to burst out in song... a German one of course. If I only had lederhosen and a stein of Oktoberfest Spaten. Best. Summer. Event. Ever. I felt relatively nostalgic too - which was probably triggered by the tremendous number of yummy starches they offered. Soft pretzel. Potato salad. Bratwurst. Oh, how I love thee even in thy food coma. Prost! read more

SOOOOO much fun! A group of us went and we all had a blast. The food was good, the buckets...yes buckets...of beer was good and the laughs were amazing! I already can't wait for next year. Don't let the big line fool ya, it goes quick. REMEMBER, bring cash! There is no ATM and that's all they take. Hope to see you all there next year. Robert :) read more

I had a wonderful experience at German Park yesterday. The buckets of beer, the brats, the music and dancing. But as I was leaving something happened that ruined my experience. I will never go back to German Park but if you choose to go I hope you learn from what happened to me. When you enter the park you are directed to purchase tickets which you use to buy food and beer inside the park. You are told that any unused tickets can be traded back in at the end of the night. So no risk of buying too many and wasting money, right? Wrong. After spending 3 great hours with my friends, we decided it was time to leave. As I approached the exit, I remembered that I had unused tickets. So I asked one of the park attendants where to trade them in. He said, "No re-entry," and directed me to the exit gate which was at least 20 feet away. I told him that I wasn't trying to leave and that I just wanted to trade in my unused tickets. He got gruff with me and said I had to leave and that I couldn't go back in the park. But I was still in the park!! As I was trying to explain, a police officer grabbed my arm and forced me out of the park telling me that I was lucky he didn't arrest me! The whole time I had been very civil, never raised my voice, never disobeyed anyone. I was dumbfounded and couldn't understand why they treated me like that. Of course, German Park is making money so I'm sure they are not upset when you don't get your money back for unused tickets. But there is no good reason to treat patrons like unruly criminals to make an extra buck. As I said despite my love for German food, beer, and culture I will never go back to German Park. But if you do, don't buy too many tickets and don't go anywhere near the exit when you want to trade in your unused tickets. Oh, sorry, did I mention that the ticket booth is right next to the exit? Just be careful please. *******UPDATE******* I contacted German Park about this incident by email. Within 48 hours, the Board of Directors personally responded with a very kind and thoughtful apology. I was really impressed. Seems there were other complaints about an over-zealous police officer that night. Anyway, they promised to make sure something like this wouldn't happen again. So, I might be persuaded to return someday. read more

Great place and time. Good organized however expect to wait in line a little. The food is very good and not overpriced. Kids def. have fun too and in case of rain they're prepared for sure. I'll def going back. read more

Great experience overall. Open to the public on the last saturday of every month in the summer, offers live german music/dancing, german food, german beer in open-air picnic style setting. Great to bring a group to. Festive environment that is great for families or friends; german food and beer is really quite good (spatzel, potato salad, bratwurst/nockwurst, pretzels; beer served in buckets) and reasonably priced. Bring some board games, and enjoy the nice weather (as it is outdoors, avoid if a nasty rainy day). Staff are friendly and dressed in classic German attire. Parking is no problem. Line to get in seems imposing, but usually moves pretty fast. BRING CASH as no cards accepted and I'm not sure if they have an ATM. read more

amazing, amazing, amazing i spent the early dusk hours last summer; drunk on really good beer and dancing to german music in a covered dance hall in the middle of the woods in ann arbor. my friend and i whipped ourselves into a drunken, sweaty frenzy of moving feet. every summer in june, july and august on the last saturday of the month german park opens its doors to the public for a german extravaganza. lovely ladies walk around serving fresh pretzels. beer huts are set up serving real german beer in many flavors. best part about the beer? it comes in a huge bucket with a little hole for you to suckle from. grab a sausage to go with your beer, fresh and only 1 buck. did i mention that the beer comes in buckets? they serve hot food also. brats and spaetzle and german potato salad oh my! get there early, its busy and i think they close by 10pm. bring lots of cash too because the whole place is cash only. otherwise, have a great time. enjoy the woods and the beer freely flowing. love, juston read more

What fun is this place! I was in carb heaven..beer, spaetzle, potato salad, and pretzels oh my! Bucket O' Beer you say..for $15 of Germany's finest, I say heck yeah! We popped a squat on a blanket under a tree, drank beer, ate food, and people watched. The staff was decked out in Lederhosen playing the accordian for us to polka to. I had a blast!! Too bad this was the last one of the season :( There was beer pong, people playing frisbee, family's gathering together, beer bucket pyramids being built, conga line debauchery..I could go on and on...LOVED IT! read more

Really great german beer garden, tucked away in a shaded wood. I think the fact that it only happens a few times each summer makes it all the more awesome. They usually have German dancing at some point in the night and always have old men in lederhosen. read more

This is a very large event, in the middle of what seemed nowhere in Ann Arbor. A lot bigger than I expected with thousands of people. I was surprised this was happening in Ann Arbor. I enjoyed it very much. read more