Der Maibaum (The Maypole)

A maypole is tucked away in a quiet, suburban Ohio park outside of Toledo. The colorful wooden maypole is a permanent feature of the park, celebrating the region’s Germanic and Swiss heritage. 

The maypole becomes a central point every year during the annual German-American Festival, which is usually held in August. The festival has been going on since 1966, making it the longest-running Toledo Geman cultural festival, and features German food, beer, music, folk dancing, and entertainment. 

Throughout the rest of the year, Oak Shade Grove is used for other events, such as weddings, soccer matches, Sommerfest, and more.

Look closely and you’ll notice that the towering 63-foot-tall maypole shows a squirrel holding a stein. When the maypole was reconstructed in 2015, a squirrel was found nesting in the center of the pole, so artists honored the furry mammal by carving the creature into the pole.