Northern Illinois Farm Show
DeKaib, Illinois
January
www.farmshows.com
The Northern Illinois Farm Show features over 270 exhibits, 8,000 producers and a multitude of educational seminars. This is the only farm show serving Northern Illinois producers this event is one not to miss.
Midwestern Herb and Garden Show
Mt. Vernon, Illinois
February
www.midwesternherbandgardenshow.com
This festival is billed as the largest event of its type in Illinois and the Midwestern Herb and Garden Show promises to be spectacular. With Vendors from throughout the Midwest and nationally known speakers, this event is geared for everyone from the novice to master gardeners.
Illinois Deer & Turkey Classic
Bloomington, Illinois
February
www.deerinfo.com
This festival has booths of hunting/shooting products, accessories, services and related outdoor items. There are also seminars including cooking and butchering, plus contests and loads more.
World Beer Cup
Chicago, Illinois
April
www.worldbeercup.org
This festival is the most prestigious beer competition in the world. Every two years a highly qualified professional panel of beer judges honors the top three beers in 91 beer style categories with gold, silver and bronze awards. The World Beer Cup is often referred to as "the Olympics of Beer Competitions" because it is one of the very few international beer competitions awarding only one gold, silver and bronze in each category.
Long Groove Chocolate Festival
Long Groove, Illinois
April
www.longgroveonline.com
This festival has chocolate-dipped strawberries, chocolate popcorn, chocolate cake, ultimate chocolate donuts, chocolate marinade, and chocolate. On top of the chocolate there are also live music, entertainment and loads more.
Ribfest Festival
Chicago, Illinois
June
www.northcenterchamber.com
This festival is a nationally recognized Food & Music fest. Ribs & Indie/Alt Country original bands and a new Rib-Eating contest
Caribbean JerkFest Festival
Chicago, Illinois
June
http://chitownjerkfest.com
This festival has tropical music and manmade sandy beach and a a marketplace of Caribbean fashions and food.
Annual Rhubarb Festival
Aledo, Illinois
June
www.
This unique festival, features more than 2,000 homemade Rhubarb Pies for sale, Rhubarb Sampling, 12,000 free Rhubarb seeds given away, crafts, music, entertainment and more all set in our historic downtown. We're so serious about our Rhubarb that Governor Pat Quinn officially named Aledo the Rhubarb Capital of Illinois.
International Horseradish Festival
Collinsville, Illinois
June
www.horseradishfestival.net
The Horseradish Festival has celebrated the multi-faceted and vastly underutilized spicy member of the mustard family and brought people from around the Midwest and the country to Collinsville for fun, entertainment, and mostly great food and drink.
Annual Drinking & Writing Festival
Chicago, Illinois
June
http://drinkingandwriting.com
This festival celebrates the life and work of Chicago's own Mike Royko, Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist, author, softball player, and voice of the people.
Chicago Botanic Garden Wine Festival
Chicago, Illinois
June
www.chicagobotanicgardenwinefestival.com
This festival you can sample from more than 200 wines from around the world. Learn about new and exciting varieties from the experts. There are also wine seminars and cooking demonstrations. Enjoy food from some of the Chicago area's finest restaurants and caterers. Local musical talent will perform live each day.
Festa! Pasta! Vino!
Chicago, Illinois
June
www.centerstagechicago.com
This festival has live entertainment, Italian Food specialties from the authentic restaurants on Oakley Avenue, Beer/Wine, merchandise from Italy, children's activities and Sunday Mass.
LaSalle County Green Fete Festival
Ottawa, Illinois
June
www.greenfetefestival.com
This festival you can enjoy organic food, dancing, music, bee keeping, Native American Culture and more! Learn how to live a happy, healthy lifestyle!
Top of Illinois Wine Festival
Galena, Illinois
June
http://topofilwinefest.info
This festival you can taste and enjoy the magnificent wines of over a dozen Northern Illinois wineries!
Annual Strawberry Festival
Long Grove, Illinois
June
www.longgroveonline.com
This festival is the granddaddy of Long Grove's signature festivals, drawing close to 50,000 visitors to the historic business district for the 3-day event. It is considered one of the premier outdoor festivals in the Chicago and area. The pleasures of summer are celebrated with "berry wonderful" strawberry filled and inspired treats.
Taste of Chicago Festival
Chicago, Illinois
June
www.
This festival there’s food for everybody’s taste at the annual Taste of Chicago where you’ll find more than 300 menu items from over 70 restaurants.
Chicago Caribbean Festival
Chicago, Illinois
June
www.chicagocarifete.com
This festival is an annual Chicago Caribbean JerkFest will be a festive celebration of Caribbean culture.
Celebrate Clark Street Festival
Chicago, Illinois
July
www.celebrateclarkstreet.com
This festival is one of Chicago’s biggest events and it celebrates ethnical and cultural diversity. Also, it has Latino music, food and other entertainment.
The Taste of Lombard Festival
Lombard, Illinois
July
www.tasteoflombard.com
This festival has over 20 food vendors, arts and crafts, live entertainment, carnival. fireworks with music on radio simulcast.
Naperville Ribfest
Naperville, Illinois
July
www.ribfest.net
This festival has 16 of the country's best rib vendors to cook in a nationally recognized BBQ contest. There is also major music acts as well as community talent.
Taste of Park Ridge Festival
Park Ridge, Illinois
July
www.tasteofparkridge.com
This festival has 25 local restaurants vendors and free entertainment daily.
Alefest
Chicago, Illinois
July
www.alefest.com/chicago.htm
AleFest is a craft beer festival showcasing the finest beer styles of the world in an educational, responsible, and enjoyable fashion.
Annual World’s Largest Catsup Bottle Summerfest
Collinsville, Illinois
July
www.catsupbottle.com
This festival celebrates the world-famous Brooks Catsup Bottle water tower at the Annual Brooks World's Largest Catsup Bottle Festival. Events include catsup tasting booth, hot dog eating contest, and loads more.
Bagelfest
Mattoon, Illinois
July
www.2camels.com/bagelfest.php
This festival is home of Lenders Bagels and you can enjoy the world's largest free bagel breakfast, bagel contests, entertainment and more.
Sweet Corn Festival
Mendota, Illinois
August
www.sweetcornfestival.com
This festival features a carnival, free entertainment, craft show, grand parade, and free sweet corn on Sunday.
Taylor Street Festa Italiana
Chicago, Illinois
August
www.
This festival has live entertainment, Italian food specialties from the authentic restaurants in Chicago's Little Italy area. Beer/Wine, merchandise from Italy.
Share Our Strength’s Taste of the Nation
Chicago, Illinois
August
http://taste.strength.org
Share Our Strength's Taste of the Nation is the nation's premier culinary benefit, featuring top chefs and mixologists, all of whom are coming together to donate their time, talent and passion to end childhood hunger in America.
Chicago’s West Suburban Italian Festival
Chicago, Illinois
August
http://centerstagechicago.com
This festival has live entertainment, Italian food specialties from Western Suburban Italian restaurants. Beer/Wine, merchandise from Italy.
Annual DeKalb Corn Fest
DeKalb, Illinois
August
www.cornfest.com
This festival has over 100,000 people come to enjoy the food and listen to the music at Corn Fest each year. Over 70 tons of sweet corn is consumed each year by visitors flocking to downtown DeKalb, Illinois for this fun-filled festival.
Annual Sweet Corn Festival
Urbana, Illinois
August
www.
This is the largest festival in Champaign County, marking the official cap-off to summer. The main course: hot, steaming ears of sweetcorn!
Amish Country Cheese Festival
Arthur, Illinois
August
www.arthurcheesefestival.com
This festival is a 3 day street festival commemorating Arthur's cheese making history. Food and Craft Vendors, Live entertainment, Free Cheese, Cheese Curling and Cheese Eating Championships, Family Friendly.
Windy City Wine Festival
Chicago, Illinois
August
www.windycitywinefestival.com
This festival you can sample more than 200 wines from around the world. Learn about new and exciting varieties from the experts in a relaxed festival setting. Wine seminars & cooking demonstrations are conducted by event sponsors, exhibiting wineries, area chefs and restaurateurs. Enjoy food from some of Chicago's finest restaurants and caterers.
Festival of the Vine
Geneva, Illinois
September
www.
This festival is the flavour as Geneva restaurants create a "smorgasbord" of specialties under an outdoor tent. Wine tastings, seminars & events, grape stomping, flower market, craft & gorgeous gourds show, musical entertainment, kids' activities plus great shopping in Geneva's historic downtown.
Annual Art & Wine Festival
Carlyle, Illinois
September
www.wineandartfestival.com
This 2-day Festival features an extensive variety of local Artisans, Wineries, Live music, and flavourful cuisine. Carlyle Lake is Illinois' largest man-made lake and the prime locale for this event.
Murphysboro Apple Festival
Murphysboro, Illinois
September
www.murphysboro.com
This festival is the longest, continuous running festival in southern Illinois, featuring the largest parade in our region. Tens of thousands of people come out every year to enjoy the events and shows.
Naperville Wine Festival
Naperville, Illinois
September
www.napervillewinefestival.com
This festival you can sample from more than 250 wines from around the world. Learn about new and exciting varieties from the experts in a relaxed festival setting. Wine seminars and cooking demonstrations are conducted by event sponsors, exhibiting wineries, area chefs and restaurateurs. Enjoy food from some of the area's finest restaurants and caterers. Local musical talent will perform live each day.
Annual Fall Festival
Lewistown, Illinois
September
www.centraliail.com/fallfestival
This festival has a Beer Garden, all you can eat Biscuts & Gravy or Pancake breakfast, cake walk, rock climbing wall, hot wing eating contest, kids Spaghetti eating contest and live music.
Annual Applle Festival
Long Grove, Illinois
October
www.longgroveonline.com
This festival has over 80 shops and restaurants help celebrate with unique seasonal gifts and merchandise and flavourful comfort foods. Treats include cider donuts, caramel apples, brown bag apple pies, and even apple popcorn and apple martinis. There is American entertainment and music–country, rock and roll, Dixieland, and jazz–and special events.
Mokena Festival
Mokena, Illinois
October
www.mokenafestival.com
This festival is a one day event which includes a Fine Arts Show, a Classic Car Show and Automobile Exhibit and a Food & Wine Festival.
Annual Eli’s Cheesecake Festival
Chicago, Illinois
October
www.elicheesecake.com
This festival has food, fun and cheesecake.
Annual Pinot Days Festival
Chicago, Illinois
November
www.pinotdays.com
This festival showcases over 60 producers of pinot noir. You can sample up to 300 pinots from every important domestic pinot noir region. Come taste the highly acclaimed 2007 vintage, and talk with the gifted winemakers who created these beautiful wines.
Annual Entertaining Festival
Chicago, Illinois
November
www.
This festival you can discover the latest entertaining tips and trends at Food & Wine's 12th Annual Entertaining Showcase. It features Chicago's leading chefs plus wines and spirits from around the world.
