It may not be beer garden weather quite yet, but it will be soon and everyone is looking forward to a fun spring, summer and fall in the new German beer garden.

Anton’s Garden, named after downtown Waterloo developer Jim Walsh’s maternal great-grandfather, who emigrated from Germany to the U.S. in 1852, is located, on the corner of East 4th and Sycamore streets in Waterloo.

Walsh's great-grandfather loved beer, so he decided to honor his lineage with a German beer garden. "Gemütlichkeit", is a German word encompassing the idea of a state or feeling of warmth, friendliness and good cheer. Walsh hopes to create this sort of fun and fellowship for the people of the Cedar Valley.

Visitors can bring their own food and sit at long shared tables, just like traditional German beer gardens. In fact, some of the tables will come straight from Germany.
Walsh also hopes to help set the atmosphere further, with live entertainment, playing German music under the gazebo. A small building with a counter, will serve traditional food, like German brats, classic hot dogs and Bavarian pretzels along with beer, of course, and other beverages.

The addition of this beer garden, is perfect timing to coincide with this summer's Iowa Irish Fest expanding south down East 4th Street, turning on Sycamore, right in front of the park.

The beer garden's season will go through September, and will end with an "OctoberFest" celebration. Then it will be disassembled for winter, so Newton’s Park can be used for the annual Christmas tree.

Walsh plans on having the garden open Friday through Sunday starting this Friday, May 10th...and is also available to rent for business functions and other gatherings.

There will be an official Grand Opening event held on Thursday, May 23rd.

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