Milwaukee County Parks' Estabrook Beer Garden will open Tuesday, April 28 at 4 p.m., more than two months earlier than past seasons.

The marquee beer garden will open the season Tuesday and a new Maifest will run Thursday and all weekend long. 

According to a news release, "this is the first event of its kind in Milwaukee in several decades." Attendees to the Maifest – which runs April 30-May 3, rain or shine – can expect to enjoy traditional German dancing, food, live music and Hofbräu Maibock beer throughout the weekend. Thursday will feature free beer from 5:30 until 6:30 p.m.

A stein-holding contest will feature a chance to win a trip for two to New York City.  

The live music entertainment lineup includes the Ferd Buchel Band, The Love Monkeys, Thomas Dietrich, Talisman, Sigmund Snopek, The Polka Kings, Austrian Express, The Squeezettes and The Milwaukee Blaskapelle.