Festival season is here in western Chicagoland and we’ve got you covered with a fully packed lineup to make your end of summer sizzle. No matter your interest, there is a fantastic festival for you near Oak Park! From tasty food festivals like the Taste of Melrose and Elmwood Park and to magical musical performances at the La Grange Endless Summerfest, there is something for everyone in the whole family.
Don’t miss any of this season's hottest events and check the lineup below!
Join us in Kiwanis Park in Brookfield for a day celebrating the arts! Stroll through beautiful Kiwanis park and rows of tents as you discover over 30 local artists and their handmade pieces. Get in on the art action and participate in the fan-favorite Sidewalk Chalk drawing contest! Stay tuned and join in on this year’s community art project. As you walk through the festival, bask in lovely live music and snack on tasty bites from food trucks. Beer and wine tents will keep your thirst quenched as you eat!
Date: September 30th
Location: Kiwanis Park
Time: 9:00am to 4:00pm
Oak Park Festival Theatre presents Shakespeare’s timeless fantasy, a Midsummer Night’s Dream. The production follows three separate but intertwining stories–the Lovers, the Mechanicals, and the Fairies–over the course of a single night. As each thread mingles with the next, the forest becomes an enchanted playground in which affections are misdirected and the limits of love are tested before order is restored. Experience this joyful production as it was truly meant to be performed…outdoors under the canopy of beautiful Austin Gardens.
Date: July 13th to August 19th
Location: Austin Gardens
Time: Showtimes vary
This juried fine arts festival is a popular end-of-the-summer event for the community as well as for high-caliber artists from across the country. It’s held in the shadow of the landmark Stone Avenue Metra train station in the charming and historic West End of La Grange surrounded by shady trees, small businesses and ample free parking. This picture-perfect setting is the ideal spot to shop and talk with artists in person, enjoy live jazz, art demonstrations and interactive fun for kids.
Date: September 9th, 10th
Location: Stone Ave Metra Station
Time: 10:00am to 5:00pm
Local craft brews, live music, and inventive food trucks round out this outdoor event for avid beer drinkers and novices alike. Riverside Foods and the Frederick Law Olmsted Society of Riverside are once again partnering to bring the beloved Hop Stop Craft Beer Festival to Riverside. This zero-waste event gives guests the opportunity to sample the latest and greatest brews from a variety of micro-local craft breweries. As you drink, enjoy live entertainment and a great lineup of food trucks!
Date: September 30th
Location: Riverside Train Station
Time: 4:00pm to 7:00pm
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The Oak Park Microbrew Review is one of the longest-running beer festivals in Chicagoland coming up on 16 years! Sample beers, ciders and seltzers from 70+ breweries, purchase food from a variety of different restaurants, and dance to fantastic music. Wander downtown Oak Park, with the streets closed and explore the area’s quaint businesses. Microbrew Review is the largest zero-waste craft beer fest in the Midwest – highlighting their mission to build sustainable communities. They work with event vendors to produce as little waste as possible, and provide recycling/composting stations for guests.
Date: August 19th
Location: Downtown Oak Park
Time: 1:00pm to 6:00pm
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Celebrate the changing seasons at Oaktoberfest in Downtown Oak Park. Enjoy a premier music line up, delicious fall foods from local restaurants, specialty craft beers, and a Kids Root Beer Garden. The Kids Garden is only open Saturday of the festival so don’t miss out on a full lineup of fun activities for the kids. There are 8 different musical performances playing a variety of rock, country, R&B and more! Admission is free but bring cash as food and drink vendors are cash only. Sample from 15+ different beers, wines and seltzers that will have flavors for everyone.
Date: September 22nd, 23rd
Location: Downtown Oak Park
Time(s): 4:00pm to 10:00pm on Sept. 22nd
Time(s): 12:00pm to 10:00pm on Sept. 23rd
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Berwyn's Oktoberfest is one of the western suburbs biggest parties of the year! The event's mid-September kick-off coincides with the original Munich Oktoberfest, which starts on September 16th this year. The event boasts live music, international food options and let's not forget the Beer Garden, featuring special Oktoberfest selections! Enjoy a variety of delicious dishes and wash it down with a seasonal brew while "prost"-ing friends and neighbors. Admission is free!
Date: September 15th, 16th
Location: Berwyn’s Depot District
Time(s): 6:00pm to 11:00pm on Sept. 15th
Time(s): 12:00pm to 11:00pm on Sept. 16th
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Celebrate Oktoberfest on Brookfield Zoo’s East Mall on September 23! Zoogoers can toss on their lederhosen and enjoy live polka music all day long. Oktoberfest beer, along with a seasonal menu with bratwurst, sausages, pretzels with cheese and more will be available for purchase. Spot the Leinie’s mobile pedi-cab will also be roaming the zoo as you celebrate! PROST!
Date: September 23rd
Location: Brookfield Zoo
Time: 11:00am to 5:00pm
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Enjoy bears and beers, lions and lagers, anteaters and ales...all at Brookfield Zoo's ZooBrew on Saturday, August 26. ZooBrew is a fun-filled, unique beer-tasting event. Sample from over 80+ different beer and other drink options. Pick from three unique tasting options to choose a beer sampling experience that’s perfect for you!
Date: August 26th
Location: Brookfield Zoo
Time: Tasting times vary
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The Food Truck Rally is held adjacent to Keystone Park in the parking lot near the train depot. Discover nearly a dozen food trucks offer up flavors of all kinds. The years list currently consists of Billy Bricks on Wheels, Spoon Burger, Happy Lobster, Big Rig Tacos, Perogi Rig, Stix & Noodles, My Funnel Truck, Cook's Hand Dipped Ice Cream, Hello Boba. On top of the food trucks, there will be a variety of beer and wine tents as you eat. There’s also face painting for the kids and many other kids activities, so bring your appetite and stay for so much more.
Date: August 26th
Location: Keystone Park
Time: 4:00pm to 9:00pm
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Join us for family friendly fun at the Annual Taste of Bellwood! You'll find carnival rides, live music, 30+ food vendors and 20+ local non-food businesses, fireworks and even a car and bike show! The car show is free entry and takes place at 10am on Saturday, August 12th. The first 100 entries will receive a plaque so get there early! As you dine on tasty bites you'll enjoy lovely live music from over 15 different performers. The fireworks close down the festival taking place at 8:30pm on Sunday. Admission is free to the Taste and all food items cost $5 or less. You won't want to miss these delicious deals!
Date: August 11th to 13th
Location: Bellwood Village Hall
Time(s): 6:00pm to 10:00pm Aug. 11th
Time(s): 12:00pm to 10:00pm Aug. 12th
Time(s): 12:00pm to 9:00pm Aug. 13th
For over 30 years the Taste of Elmwood Park has been the premier event of the Village. Elmwood Park has a long standing reputation for being home to outstanding restaurants. The Annual Taste takes place at Central Park on 75th Avenue and Fullerton. It provides a true Taste of Elmwood Park showcasing some of our finest local restaurants as well as musical entertainment, games, rides, arts & crafts and more. Special events of the taste include The Mayor’s Cup Bocce Tournament, The Taste Lounge, Yoga in the Park and their newest 75th Avenue Market featuring fresh seafood selections and Italian Favorites.
Date: August 10th to 13th
Location: Central Park
Time(s): 5:00pm to 11:00pm Aug. 10th
Time(s): 5:00pm to 11:00pm Aug. 11th
Time(s): 12:00pm to 11:30pm Aug. 12th
Time(s): 11:00am to 10:00pm Aug. 13th
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For 41 years the Taste of Melrose Park has been providing amazing family fun. Whether it’s jaw dropping local bites, electric live music or awesome amusement rides, the Taste has something for everyone. The Taste is loaded with different flavors so come hungry! Once you're full from the food, stick around for days full of family fun! With amazing amusement rides, face painting, fireworks, live music and dancing plus much more, the Taste of Melrose Park has something for everyone!
Date: September 1st to 3rd
Location: Melrose Park Civic Center
Time(s): 6:00pm to 11:00pm Sept. 1st
Time(s): 12:00pm to 11:00pm Sept. 2nd
Time(s): 12:00pm to 10:00pm Sept. 3rd
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Save the date for a weekend of family fun at one of the hottest festivals in the western suburbs. You’ll find great bands, cold beer, carnival rides, classic fun and delicious bites from some of your favorite restaurants, too. With over 10 different musical performances, there are tunes for everyone in the family. This is what summer weekends are made for – bring everyone in the family for a festival of endless fun!
Date: August 4th to 6th
Location: Gordon Park
Time(s): 5:00pm to 10:30pm Aug. 4th
Time(s): 1:00pm to 10:30pm Aug. 5th
Time(s): 1:00pm to 9:45pm Aug. 6th
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Join us at Fall Fest, the annual family-friendly event in Rehm Park and the Oak Park Conservatory. Enjoy pumpkins, kids crafts, and nature activities at the Conservatory. Rehm Park hosts games & activities, inflatables, yummy food, Rehm Train Rides, and more! Food vendors will be at this event as well! Check back later to see the options.
Date: September 24th
Location: Oak Park Conservatory & Rhem Park
Time: 11:00am to 2:00pm
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Soak up some sun at an exciting summer event. The wonderful western suburbs have endless opportunities for adventures. Come for a day but stay for a week and get lost in the endless history, galleries, boutiques and restaurants the area has to offer. Check out this month’s hottest events HERE and sign up for our newsletter below to stay up to date with everything exciting going on near Oak Park!