Every Fall Festival in Chicago, in One Calendar

Dec 31 Wed

Berghoff Oktoberfest Chicago’s longest-running Oktoberfest celebrates its 30th year with a traditional outdoor toast followed by three days of live music, ‘80s trivia, and prizes.

John C. Kluczynski Federal Plaza

Berghoff Oktoberfest John C. Kluczynski Federal Plaza Chicago’s longest-running Oktoberfest celebrates its 30th year with a traditional outdoor toast followed by three days of live music, ‘80s trivia, and prizes.

Dec 31 Wed

Festiv-Ale: A Celebration of Beer This beer fest features high-end brews and your chance to win a 30-case “Tower of Beer” in the raffle. Talk about classy.

Block 37

Festiv-Ale: A Celebration of Beer Block 37 This beer fest features high-end brews and your chance to win a 30-case “Tower of Beer” in the raffle. Talk about classy.

Dec 31 Wed

Farm Aid 30 Farm Aid returns to Chicago with Willie Nelson, Neil Young, Imagine Dragons, and more, plus farm-identified local and organic food. You can also meet and hang out with farmers, if that’s how you rage.

FirstMerit Bank Pavilion

Farm Aid 30 FirstMerit Bank Pavilion Farm Aid returns to Chicago with Willie Nelson, Neil Young, Imagine Dragons, and more, plus farm-identified local and organic food. You can also meet and hang out with farmers, if that’s how you rage.

Dec 31 Wed

HOPS! Oktoberfest Party Join the Chicago Homebrewers Pride of the South Side at a VFW hall beer garden for a pig roast, German food, and all manner of crazy homebrews.

Bridgeport, VFW Post 5079

HOPS! Oktoberfest Party Bridgeport, VFW Post 5079 Join the Chicago Homebrewers Pride of the South Side at a VFW hall beer garden for a pig roast, German food, and all manner of crazy homebrews.

Dec 31 Wed

Independence Park Beer Fest Craft beers, food trucks, live music, you know the drill... it’s a beer fest. This one goes down in Irving Park’s Independence Park for its second straight year.

Irving Park

Independence Park Beer Fest Irving Park Craft beers, food trucks, live music, you know the drill... it’s a beer fest. This one goes down in Irving Park’s Independence Park for its second straight year.

Dec 31 Wed

Chicago Internet Cat Video Festival Yes, it’s a film festival for cat videos. No, we’re not kidding.

Athenaeum Theatre

Chicago Internet Cat Video Festival Athenaeum Theatre Yes, it’s a film festival for cat videos. No, we’re not kidding.

Dec 31 Wed

Ravenswood ArtWalk Experience a weekend of art, music, food, and community while getting a peek inside the spaces that have helped define Ravenswood.

Ravenswood

Ravenswood ArtWalk Ravenswood Experience a weekend of art, music, food, and community while getting a peek inside the spaces that have helped define Ravenswood.

Dec 31 Wed

Lakeview Taco Fest Tacos take center stage with inventive offerings plus Mexican wrestlers, beer and taco parings, and a best taco contest.

Lakeview (Southport & Addison)

Lakeview Taco Fest Lakeview (Southport & Addison) Tacos take center stage with inventive offerings plus Mexican wrestlers, beer and taco parings, and a best taco contest.

Dec 31 Wed

Renegade Craft Fair Indie arts and crafts, indie bands, and food/drink from local vendors.

Wicker Park

Renegade Craft Fair Wicker Park Indie arts and crafts, indie bands, and food/drink from local vendors.

Dec 31 Wed

Vintage Garage Chicago: Retro Chicago Scour for vintage goods in Chicago’s only all-vintage market venue.

Uptown

Vintage Garage Chicago: Retro Chicago Uptown Scour for vintage goods in Chicago’s only all-vintage market venue.

Dec 31 Wed

Chicago Gourmet The ultimate in fancy-pants dining with 150+ top chefs and restos, plus wineries, spirit makers, and breweries.

Millennium Park

Chicago Gourmet Millennium Park The ultimate in fancy-pants dining with 150+ top chefs and restos, plus wineries, spirit makers, and breweries.

Dec 31 Wed

Oktoberfest Chicago Beer, brats, Bavarian pretzels, beer, lederhosen, live pop/German music on two stages, and also beer.

Lakeview

Oktoberfest Chicago Lakeview Beer, brats, Bavarian pretzels, beer, lederhosen, live pop/German music on two stages, and also beer.

Dec 31 Wed

American Craft Expo (ACE) Replace that lava lamp with something a bit more grown-up at one of the country’s finest fine craft shows.

Chicago Botanic Garden

American Craft Expo (ACE) Chicago Botanic Garden Replace that lava lamp with something a bit more grown-up at one of the country’s finest fine craft shows.

Dec 31 Wed

Chicago Magazine Culture Festival Architecture talks + theater performances + literature readings + live comedy + music = culture, now in festival form.

Venue SIX10

Chicago Magazine Culture Festival Venue SIX10 Architecture talks + theater performances + literature readings + live comedy + music = culture, now in festival form.

Dec 31 Wed

Mad Decent Block Party Diplo’s uber-cool dance music label sets up shop at Hawthorne Race Course for you to get freaky with Major Lazer, Klingande, Martin Solveig, and more.

Hawthorne Race Course

Mad Decent Block Party Hawthorne Race Course Diplo’s uber-cool dance music label sets up shop at Hawthorne Race Course for you to get freaky with Major Lazer, Klingande, Martin Solveig, and more.

Dec 31 Wed

Fiesta Familiar The largest Hispanic family event of its kind in the Midwest features live bands, dance, and “activity stations” dedicated to art, science, music, and more.

Lincoln Park Zoo

Fiesta Familiar Lincoln Park Zoo The largest Hispanic family event of its kind in the Midwest features live bands, dance, and “activity stations” dedicated to art, science, music, and more.

Dec 31 Wed

Edgewater Fall Art Fair 120+ Chicago artists are paired with live music, a beer garden, and a talent show.

Edgewater

Edgewater Fall Art Fair Edgewater 120+ Chicago artists are paired with live music, a beer garden, and a talent show.

Dec 31 Wed

Grand Art & Design Fest This Chicago street festival celebrates design with hay rides, live music, and a silent auction.

West Town

Grand Art & Design Fest West Town This Chicago street festival celebrates design with hay rides, live music, and a silent auction.

Dec 31 Wed

West Town Art Walk West Town turns into a pop-up art gallery within shops along Chicago Ave in various media including visual, music, and culinary.

Chicago Ave between Milwaukee and Western

West Town Art Walk Chicago Ave between Milwaukee and Western West Town turns into a pop-up art gallery within shops along Chicago Ave in various media including visual, music, and culinary.

Dec 31 Wed

Ravinia District Fall Fest This new fest offers live music, vendors, a petting zoo, and drum circles as well as artisanal beer and wine flights plus BBQ tastings.

Highland Park

Ravinia District Fall Fest Highland Park This new fest offers live music, vendors, a petting zoo, and drum circles as well as artisanal beer and wine flights plus BBQ tastings.

Dec 31 Wed

Foodie 5K Food trucks like The Fat Shallot, Babycakes, The Slide Ride, and Yum Dum make this a 5K you might actually consider doing.

Chicagoland Speedway

Foodie 5K Chicagoland Speedway Food trucks like The Fat Shallot, Babycakes, The Slide Ride, and Yum Dum make this a 5K you might actually consider doing.

Dec 31 Wed

Fall Family Fun Fest Games, chalk art, a fishing pond, duct-tape crafts, and a fire station open house highlight this walk through the Eisenhower Public Library District.

Norridge/Harwood Heights

Fall Family Fun Fest Norridge/Harwood Heights Games, chalk art, a fishing pond, duct-tape crafts, and a fire station open house highlight this walk through the Eisenhower Public Library District.

Dec 31 Wed

Bacon & Beer Classic Enjoy bacon bites (David Burke Primehouse, Haute Sausage, Public House, Dinky Donuts, etc.) and beer (Flossmoor Station, Abita, Motor Row, Lake Effect, etc.) in two sessions (brunch and evening) without the Cutler frustration.

Soldier Field

Bacon & Beer Classic Soldier Field Enjoy bacon bites (David Burke Primehouse, Haute Sausage, Public House, Dinky Donuts, etc.) and beer (Flossmoor Station, Abita, Motor Row, Lake Effect, etc.) in two sessions (brunch and evening) without the Cutler frustration.

Dec 31 Wed

Chicago Ideas Week Get the answers to life’s big questions at this weeklong fest for the brain, with 100+talks and labs including a conversation between Rahm Emanuel and Hillary Clinton.

Various locations

Chicago Ideas Week Various locations Get the answers to life’s big questions at this weeklong fest for the brain, with 100+talks and labs including a conversation between Rahm Emanuel and Hillary Clinton.

Dec 31 Wed

Pittypalooza Pit bulls and other “bully” dogs are the beneficiaries of this charity event featuring five hours of live music, drinks, dinner, and a raffle.

115 Bourbon St, Merrionette Park

Pittypalooza 115 Bourbon St, Merrionette Park Pit bulls and other “bully” dogs are the beneficiaries of this charity event featuring five hours of live music, drinks, dinner, and a raffle.

Dec 31 Wed

RUN 10 FEED 10 Fight local hunger with this 10K featuring a post-race party with live DJ, afterparty yoga session, and beauty consultations.

Diversey Harbor

RUN 10 FEED 10 Diversey Harbor Fight local hunger with this 10K featuring a post-race party with live DJ, afterparty yoga session, and beauty consultations.

Dec 31 Wed

Vintage Garage Chicago: Record Ramp Scour for vintage records at the season finale of Chicago’s only all-vintage market venue.

Uptown 

Vintage Garage Chicago: Record Ramp Uptown  Scour for vintage records at the season finale of Chicago’s only all-vintage market venue.

Dec 31 Wed

SOFA Chicago Sort of like the Art Basel of Chicago, SOFA is the premier gallery-presented art fair dedicated to three-dimensional art and design. In other words, not the place to buy a new La-Z-Boy.

Navy Pier

SOFA Chicago Navy Pier Sort of like the Art Basel of Chicago, SOFA is the premier gallery-presented art fair dedicated to three-dimensional art and design. In other words, not the place to buy a new La-Z-Boy.

Dec 31 Wed

ChillFest 2015 See live acoustic acts in all sorts of weird Wicker Park/Bucktown locations including dog-grooming salons, jewelry stores, and sex shops.

Wicker Park/Bucktown

ChillFest 2015 Wicker Park/Bucktown See live acoustic acts in all sorts of weird Wicker Park/Bucktown locations including dog-grooming salons, jewelry stores, and sex shops.

Dec 31 Wed

Magnificent Mile Lights Festival Get ready to elbow tourists for Beanie Babies with a tree-lighting ceremony, live music, a parade, and fireworks to kick off the holiday shopping season.

Mag Mile

Magnificent Mile Lights Festival Mag Mile Get ready to elbow tourists for Beanie Babies with a tree-lighting ceremony, live music, a parade, and fireworks to kick off the holiday shopping season.

Dec 31 Wed

Santa Hustle 5K It wouldn’t be December without some ridiculous excuse to wear a Santa suit. This one involves running (and Christmas music along the course).

Soldier Field

Santa Hustle 5K Soldier Field It wouldn’t be December without some ridiculous excuse to wear a Santa suit. This one involves running (and Christmas music along the course).

Dec 31 Wed

CCPA JazzFest The Chicago College of Performing Arts at Roosevelt University welcomes some of the finest young jazz talent at Chicago’s leading jazz venue.

Jazz Showcase

CCPA JazzFest Jazz Showcase The Chicago College of Performing Arts at Roosevelt University welcomes some of the finest young jazz talent at Chicago’s leading jazz venue.

Dec 31 Wed

Beer Fest Beat Down Lucha libre wrestling, a beer replica of Buckingham Fountain, food trucks, and 100+ craft beers = the only acceptable reason to visit Hoffman Estates.

Sears Centre

Beer Fest Beat Down Sears Centre Lucha libre wrestling, a beer replica of Buckingham Fountain, food trucks, and 100+ craft beers = the only acceptable reason to visit Hoffman Estates.