Frankenmuth, Michigan · Est. 1845
Little Bavaria,
the local way.
Chicken dinners, the Glockenspiel, a brewery that dates to 1862 and a town that celebrates something almost every month. Here's how to do Frankenmuth well, from people who live and work nearby.
- 1845Founded by Franconian settlers
- 10 stopsOn the Main Street crawl
- 11 to 11Social District hours, daily
Main Street Bar Crawl
Ten stops from the north end to the Cass River, plus how the Social District cups work.
Plan the route →Festivals & events
Snowfest, the Bavarian Festival, Auto Fest, Oktoberfest and the Christmas season, all in one calendar.
See the calendar →The story of Frankenmuth
Why a little Michigan town on the Cass River feels like Franconia.
Read the history →Happening soon
Full calendar →Scarecrow Fest
Scarecrows line River Place Shops for the last two weekends of October.
Christmas Experience Kickoff
The day after Thanksgiving, Frankenmuth goes all-in on Christmas.
Zehnder's Snowfest
Snow and ice sculptures all over town.
A town named for courage
In 1845, a small group of Lutheran settlers from around Roßtal in Franconia, a region of Bavaria, sailed for America and founded a mission settlement on the Cass River. They called it Frankenmuth: Franken for Franconia, and Mut, German for courage.
That heritage never faded. Today you'll hear the Glockenspiel ring, walk across a covered bridge over the Cass River, eat family-style chicken dinners and raise a stein at festivals the town has held for generations.
Franken + Mut: Franconia, and courage.