Lakeview East Festival of the Arts Photo Credit Lakeview East Chamber of Commerce
Sure, school has started and the weather is cooling off, but the festival season is in full swing. With these 27 fall fairs and festivals across Chicago and its suburbs, kids of all ages can continue to enjoy the great outdoors, kids zones and good food.
Chicago
Festival de la Villita
When: Sept. 6-8
Where:Â 26th Street & Kostner
Community cultural event celebrates Mexico’s independence from Spanish rule. Highlights include food, music, carnival rides and kids’ entertainment. On Sunday, the festival is the end location of the 26th Street Parade, one of the largest celebrations of Hispanic culture in the Midwest.
Throwback Music Festival
When: Sept. 6-8
Where:Â 6030 N. Milwaukee Ave. (at Peterson)
It’s all about retro tunes at this annual post-Labor Day festival in the Gladstone Park neighborhood on Chicago’s northwest side. In addition to three days of music acts, there will be arts and crafts and kids’ activities.
County Fair Chicago
When: Sept. 7-8
Where: Bank of America Auditorium, 4901 W. Irving Park Rd.
Taste the flavor of down home when urban meets rural as Six Corners Association blends the farm with the city in Portage Park. Stroll the Midway and graze on delicious, locally-made cuisine; pick up new skills from a variety of educational, interactive, maker-focused workshops; take in the sounds of bluegrass, rockabilly, and country jams humming from the stage; and, lace up your dancing shoes for a traditional barn dance once the sun goes down Saturday night.
Lakeview East Festival of the Arts
When: Sept. 14-15
Where: Broadway from Belmont Ave. to Roscoe Street
Showcases more than 150-juried artists featuring world-class original paintings, sculpture, photography, furniture, jewelry and more. In addition to the artists’ booths, the Festival features two live music tents and a beer and wine garden, a landscape garden oasis, interactive children’s area, a mosaic mural making booth, live glass blowing and more.
Ravenswood ArtWalk
When: Sept. 14-15
Where: Ravenswood Avenue from Irving Park Rd. to Leland
Join the Greater Ravenswood Chamber of Commerce for a tour of arts and industry for a weekend of art, music, food, and community while getting a peek inside the spaces that help to define Ravenswood.
Andersonville Arts Fest
When: Sept. 21-22
Where:Â W Winona St. & N Clark St.
The new Andersonville Arts Fest features artwork, live music and food from on-site and neighboring restaurants. Activities for kids add to an array of restaurants, galleries and unique shopping experiences surrounding the festival.
Lakeview Taco Fest
When: Sept. 21-22
Where:Â 3500 N. Southport
The taco gets the spotlight treatment at this fest in the heart of the Southport Corridor. In addition to tacos and music, features beer and taco pairings, Mexican wrestlers, a kids’ activity area and arts/crafts.
Oktoberfest Chicago at St. Alphonsus
When: Sept. 27-28
Where:Â St. Alphonsus Church, 1429 W. Wellington Ave.
Annual neighborhood event features food, music and entertainment on three stages, arts crafts, and KinderFest with face paintings, storytelling, inflatables, dance parties and art activities on Saturday and Sunday.
Fall Fest at Lincoln Park Zoo
When: Sept. 27-Oct. 27
Where: Lincoln Park Zoo, 2200 N. Cannon
Features ticketed attractions throughout the zoo: corn maze, fun slide, inflatable obstacle course and more. Fall Fest also includes animal chats, musical entertainment, a pumpkin patch with pumpkins for sale, pumpkin carvers and fall-themed enrichment.
Cornucopia Fall Festival
When: Sept. 28
Where: Eugene Field Park, 5100 N. Ridgeway Ave.
Includes pony rides, a petting zoo, inflatables, a pumpkin patch, face painting, balloon art and live entertainment as well as an art fair and food trucks.
Edgewater Arts Festival
When: Sept. 28-29
Where: Granville Avenue, between Broadway and Kenmore
Features more than 100 exhibiting artists, three stages of eclectic live music, and food from local restaurants. Kid-friendly activities include the Children’s Activity Corner with entertainment for children ages 1-12: face painting, finger painting, sidewalk chalk drawing, interactive puppet shows, and arts and crafts. The Children’s Music Talent Showcase will feature performances by local elementary school age children. Plus, a “Doggie District” pet show.
Hyde Park Jazz Festival
When: Sept. 28-29
Where: Multiple Hyde Park venues
Festival features the finest in local jazz and national and international jazz artists; diverse performance venues; outdoor dance floor; food/beverage vendors and picnic areas; artisan vendors; and activities for kids.
North/Northwest Suburbs
Long Grove Apple Fest Photo Credit Grimaldi Public Relations
Fall Fest at Lake County JCC
When: Sept. 15
Where: Lake County Jewish Community Campus, 23280 N. Old McHenry Road, Lake Zurich
Enjoy activities for all ages including: Garoon Gateway to Science, apple cider press, inflatable bouncy house, petting zoo, crafts, face painting, snacks and more.
Long Grove Apple Fest
When:Â Sept. 20-22
Where:Â Old McHenry Road and Robert Parker Coffin Road, Long Grove
Enjoy the beautiful fall outdoor ambiance and free live music throughout the historic village. Get your apple fix on treats like brown bag apple pies, apple cider donuts, hot apple cider, caramel apple lattes and more. Plus, participate in exciting free family activities, including a wide-variety of apple-themed games like the legendary apple pie eating contests.
Lambs Farm Fall on the Farm
When: Sept. 21-22
Where: Lambs Farm, I-94 and Route 176, Libertyville
A family-friendly event with fall themed-crafts and activities, including paint a pumpkin, sand art, face painting, decorating a cookie and more. The Lake County Farm Heritage Association will be on site with tractors for kids to touch and go for a ride in a barrel train.
Western Suburbs
Passport Europe Festival
Fox Valley Folk Festival
When: Sept. 1-2
Where: Island Park, Routes 25 and 38, Geneva
Festival features eight stage areas with performances of folk music and storytelling, plus workshops and kids’ activities. Plus, a Barn Dance and Ghost Stories Sunday night.
Downtown Downers Grove Fine Arts Festival
When: Sept. 7-8
Where:Â Main Street and Burlington Avenue, Downers Grove
The artists will come from across the country with art ranging in prices from $25 to more than $4,000. Enjoy live entertainment and a kids’ art booth while perusing the display of a variety of mediums.
The Glen Ellyn Backyard BBQ
When: Sept. 7
Where:Â Glenwood Avenue parking lot, Glen Ellyn
More than 60 teams compete for trophies and bragging rights in three categories. Festivities include live music, a dunk tank, and activities for kids. All proceeds support Bridge Communities in their efforts to help transition homeless families in DuPage County to self-sufficiency by means of working with partners to provide mentoring, housing, and supportive services.
Scandinavian Day Festival
When: Sept. 8
Where: Vasa Park, Route 31, 7 Miles south of 1-90 Northwest Tollway, South Elgin
Festival celebrates the cultures of Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway and Sweden. The day focuses on food, fellowship and fun. There will be morning church services and entertainment throughout the day, including a performance by ABBA Salute. There will be cultural displays and Scandinavian food and vendors.
Oaktoberfest
When: Sept. 20-21
Where:Â Between Marion St. and Forest Blvd., Oak Park
Annual fall festival featuring premiere music lineup featuring local and national artists, a microbrew, kids root beer garden and ethnic food offerings.
Passport Europe Festival
When: Sept. 21-22
Where: Morton Arboretum
Immerse yourself in the diverse cultures of Europe with culinary delights, musical performances, dancing demonstrations and more during this annual festival featuring the dynamic cultures of Europe. Hike the trails and explore the Arboretum’s collections of trees and plants native to central and northern Europe.
Batavia OktoberFest
When: Sept. 27-28
Where: Downtown Batavia
A traditional Oktoberfest event that features authentic German food, music, entertainment and beer. Family-friendly activities all day Saturday and official Sam Adams stein hoisting contests on Friday night and Saturday night. Sunday is family day with games, kid-focused entertainment on stage, and even a Xfinity Sports Zone viewing area for football fans.
South Suburbs
Homewood Fall Fest
Fall on the Green Festival
When: Sept. 6-8
Where: 95th Street & Cook Avenue, Oak Lawn
This family friendly festival will be filled with live entertainment, a food tent, and activities that include inflatables, a climbing wall, eurobungy, and DJ/Karaoke. This year’s event features a Senior Hospitality Tent that will include Bingo.
Monarch Festival
When: Sept. 14
Where: Oak View Community Center, 4625 W. 110th St., Oak Lawn
Activities include butterfly arts and crafts for kids, an interactive puppet theater, face painting, music, and more. Plus, live butterfly tagging, a bug zoo, caterpillar aquarium, and a movie.
Autumn in the Park Festival
When: Sept. 20-21
Where: Palos Park Village Green, 8901 W. 123rd St., Palos Park
Event includes a parade at 11 a.m. Saturday, a Chili and BBQ Rib Cook-Off, music, games and entertainment, including a sports cave and a kids’ area with petting zoo, games, euro bungee and pony and hayrack rides.
The Midwest Wizard of Oz Festival
When: Sept. 21-22
Where:Â Odyssey Fun Farm Tinley Park, 18900Â S. Oak Park Ave., Tinley Park
Includes a carnival, coloring contest, Auntie Em’s pie-eating contest, and a gathering of people dressed as characters from The Wizard of Oz. Actors from the Spirit of Oz will perform songs and skits and interact with visitors.
Homewood Fall Fest
When: Sept. 28
Where: Martin Ave. from Hickory to Ridge Road, Homewood
Features live entertainment for children and adults, horse-drawn wagon rides, the annual bean bag tournament, pony rides, games, art and craft vendors, a pumpkin patch and food from local eateries.
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