Just because summer is wrapped up doesn’t mean you can’t still drink beer in the street (aka the itinerary for every Chicago festival). So prep for fall by acting like it’s still summer with our comprehensive guide to EVERY fall festival in Chicago.
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Date
Event
Location
Sep 15 Tue
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.
Date
Event
Location
Sep 17 Thu
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.
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.
Date
Event
Location
Sep 18 Fri
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.
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.
Date
Event
Location
Sep 18 Fri
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.
Date
Event
Location
Sep 18 Fri
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.
Date
Event
Location
Sep 18 Fri
Chicago Internet Cat Video Festival Yes, it’s a film festival for cat videos. No, we’re not kidding.
Chicago Internet Cat Video Festival Athenaeum Theatre Yes, it’s a film festival for cat videos. No, we’re not kidding.
Date
Event
Location
Sep 18 Fri
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.
Date
Event
Location
Sep 18 Fri
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.
Date
Event
Location
Sep 18 Fri
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.
Date
Event
Location
Sep 19 Sat
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.
Date
Event
Location
Sep 24 Thu
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.
Date
Event
Location
Sep 24 Thu
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.
Date
Event
Location
Sep 24 Thu
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.
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.
Date
Event
Location
Sep 25 Fri
Chicago Magazine Culture Festival Architecture talks + theater performances + literature readings + live comedy + music = culture, now in festival form.
Chicago Magazine Culture Festival Venue SIX10 Architecture talks + theater performances + literature readings + live comedy + music = culture, now in festival form.
Date
Event
Location
Sep 25 Fri
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.
Date
Event
Location
Sep 25 Fri
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.
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.
Date
Event
Location
Sep 25 Fri
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.
Date
Event
Location
Sep 25 Fri
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.
Date
Event
Location
Sep 25 Fri
Hyde Park Jazz Festival See live jazz on 14 stages across Hyde Park in a variety of settings with 18 hours of free, nonstop live performances.
Hyde Park
Hyde Park Jazz Festival Hyde Park See live jazz on 14 stages across Hyde Park in a variety of settings with 18 hours of free, nonstop live performances.
Date
Event
Location
Oct 1 Thu
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.
Date
Event
Location
Oct 1 Thu
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.
Date
Event
Location
Oct 2 Fri
Foodie 5K Food trucks like The Fat Shallot, Babycakes, The Slide Ride, and Yum Dum make this a 5K you might actually consider doing.
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.
Date
Event
Location
Oct 2 Fri
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.
Date
Event
Location
Oct 9 Fri
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.
Date
Event
Location
Oct 11 Sun
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.
Date
Event
Location
Oct 16 Fri
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.
Date
Event
Location
Oct 16 Fri
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.
Date
Event
Location
Oct 17 Sat
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.
Date
Event
Location
Oct 29-Dec 31
Freaky Deaky Bassnectar, Pretty Lights, 2 Chainz, and more (not to mention carnival rides, games, and haunted houses) invade Toyota Park as this local Halloween dance festival takes to the large-scale outdoor stage for the first time.
Toyota Park
Freaky Deaky Toyota Park Bassnectar, Pretty Lights, 2 Chainz, and more (not to mention carnival rides, games, and haunted houses) invade Toyota Park as this local Halloween dance festival takes to the large-scale outdoor stage for the first time.
Date
Event
Location
Nov 4 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.
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.
Date
Event
Location
Nov 13 Fri
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.
Date
Event
Location
Nov 20 Fri
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.
Date
Event
Location
Nov 25 Wed
McDonald’s Thanksgiving Parade The old faithful of fall festivals. Bonus points for heckling Ronald McDonald.
Downtown
McDonald’s Thanksgiving Parade Downtown The old faithful of fall festivals. Bonus points for heckling Ronald McDonald.
Date
Event
Location
Dec 4 Fri
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).
Date
Event
Location
Dec 4 Fri
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.
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.
Date
Event
Location
Dec 11 Fri
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.
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.
Date
Event
Location
Dec 11 Fri
Twelve Bars of Xmas Pub Crawl Some call it a festival, some call it a bar crawl, some call it the culmination of everything that is wrong with today’s youth. Either way, it’s TBOX. And you’re drinking early. Real early.
Wrigleyville
Twelve Bars of Xmas Pub Crawl Wrigleyville Some call it a festival, some call it a bar crawl, some call it the culmination of everything that is wrong with today’s youth. Either way, it’s TBOX. And you’re drinking early. Real early.