Our German/Austrian cultural festivals—Maifest and Kinderfest—are held annually in May and September, and are not to be missed.
If you love to dance, there’s always a lively band playing folk and popular music. Featured dancers in traditional dress perform Schuhplattler and other dances popular at Oktoberfest and seasonal festivals in Bavaria and Austria.
Add to that a menu of authentic German/Austrian foods, and of course, excellent imported and domestic beers and other drinks, and you have a fun-filled day that is sehr gemütlich for all ages.
Festivals are held at our beautiful Mt. Tamalpais alpine lodge, built by members over 100 years ago, and decorated with Bäuerlicher Malerei. The lodge is situated in the redwoods just above Muir Woods National Monument, and has wonderful views of the California Coast Ranges and surrounding area.
Don’t forget to wear your Lederhosen, Dirndl, Tirolerhut, or other Tracht (traditional attire) to join in the spirit of the Fest!
Maifest, May 18, 2025
Location
San Francisco Tourist Club, Mill Valley, Marin County, California
Reaching our lodge requires a Spaziergang from a trailhead or our parking lot, but is worth it! See Directions.
Getting to the Fest
Whenever possible, please hike in, take the bus, or share rides to the club, as parking is very limited in our parking lot and in the surrounding communities along Ridge Avenue and Panoramic Highway. See directions for more information.
If you do drive and park near the club, be very careful to park completely off the road in a legal parking place, and not to block driveways or means of ingress and egress. Rangers and local police authorities issue tickets to vehicles parked illegally or unsafely.
Please be careful walking along Panoramic Highway and other streets. We want you to arrive and leave safely.
Our Commitment to Reducing Waste
The Tourist Club has made a commitment to reducing its plastic and paper waste. Consequently, we will not be providing plastic cups for beverages or disposable cups at the water stations. We encourage all guests to bring and use non-glass personal water containers.
Access
Our more than 100 year-old property has numerous staircases, uneven steps, and dirt trails, and is not ADA accessible. It can be challenging for the infirm, those with perambulators (baby carriages), and anyone who wishes to avoid steep and narrow, rocky trails. A shuttle is available during festivals from the lodge to our Ridge Avenue parking lot beginning at 3pm. The shuttle is for the disabled and infirm only.
Fest Tips