Illinois Summer Festival Guide 2024

ILLINOIS — It may not officially be summer until June 20, but the weather has already started to warm and schools are wrapping up for the year, which means it's time to take a look at the summer festivals and events coming up in the Chicago area.

Here are some events to keep you and the kids busy until school is back in session and the weather cools off. From live music and food fests to craft beer and fireworks, there's no shortage of entertainment to be had.

Chicago

June 14–16: Ribfest Chicago along Lincoln Avenue from Irving Park Road to Berteau Ave. Featuring ribs, live music, family activities and more. Tickets and VIP passes available here.

June 22–23: Pride Fest in Boystown. Held the weekend before the Chicago Pride Parade, there will be live music on three stages, drag performances, the Proud Pet Parade, and over 150 food and merchandise vendors.

July 19–21: Pitchfork Music Festival in Union Park. Featuring more than 40 musical acts, including Carly Rae Jepson, Jai Paul, Alanis Morissette, Muna, Black Pumas and more. Three-day passes and individual tickets available.

Aug. 1–4: Lollapalooza in Grant Park. Featuring Tyler The Creator, SZA, Hozier, Stray Kids, The Killers, Blink-182 and more. Tickets range from general admission to Platinum.

Aug. 10-11: Chicago Air and Water Show at North Avenue Beach and the Chicago lakefront. The annual show features military teams including the Blue Angels, as well as civilian teams and a single-seat WWII fighter aircraft. Free admission.

Sept. 6-8: Taste of Chicago at Grant Park. Featuring food, music and fireworks. Free admission.

Cook County

June 14-15: The Winnetka Music Festival in downtown Winnetka. Food vendors, live music featuring Band of Horses, Milky Chance and many more. Tickets start at $49.

June 30: City of Hickory Hills 44th Annual Street Fair on Roberts Road between 95th Street and 91st Street, Hickory Hills. Live entertainment, food trucks, car show, crafters, Bingo, karaoke and inflatable rides.

July 3-6: Morton Grove Days features four days of carnival entertainment, live music, food with a parade and fireworks on the Fourth at Harrer Park, 6140 Dempster St.

July 25-28: Lincolnwood Fest at Proesel Park. It will feature live music, carnival rides, food, drink, car show, family activity tent and more. Find a full schedule online.

Aug. 3: Taco and Margarita Fest, at The Forge: Lemont Quarries, 227 Heritage Quarries Drive in Lemont. Variety of taco creations from food trucks, and margaritas, beer and a vendor village.

Aug. 16-18: The sixth annual Evanston Art and Big Fork Festival will showcase artwork for sale from over 150 artists in a variety of media. Free entry. Kids art zone, face painting tent and more.

Aug. 23-25: The Backlot Bash offers three days of music and fun, including a carnival, Bingo, food, beer, Rotary pancake breakfast, a 5K run and kids color fun run, and more. On Oakton Street between Lincoln and Laramie Avenues. This year's headliners include Arrested Development, Tonic, and Tributosaurus Becomes The Kinks.

Will County

June 6-9: Old Canal Days in Lockport. Carnival, parade, beer garden, live entertainment, Bingo, food trucks and more.

June 21–23: Taste of Joliet at Joliet's Memorial Stadium. Featuring Goo Goo Dolls, Lady A, Restless Road and more. Live music, rides and plenty of food. Admission is $19 in advance or $20 at the gate Friday and Saturday, and $15 in advance from noon to 3 p.m., and $20 from 3 to 9 p.m. on Sunday.

June 27-30: Homer Community Festival at Heritage Park, 14240 W. 151st St. Carnival, parade, fireworks, food vendors and more. Carnival mega pass is $65 pre-sale, and $75 at the carnival. Free admission, free parking.

June 28-30: Plainfield Fest at the Village Green. Featuring carnival rides, live music, petting zoo, bags tournament. The carnival will be set up at the north end of Plainfield Central High School.

July 13-14: Frankfort Bluegrass Festival. Free admission, featuring live music in downtown Frankfort.

July 27: Barro Fest at Settlers' Park in Plainfield. Featuring live music, beer tent and food vendors. The event will run from 1-10 p.m. July 27 at Settlers' Park and the adjacent vacant property to the west.

Aug. 1–4: RomeoFest at Deer Crossing Park/Village Park. Four-day long celebration including music, food, a carnival, car show, fireworks, laser show and more. New this year is Romeoville's first color run.

Aug. 2–4: Shorewood Crossroads Fest at Cene's Four Season's Park, 25520 W. Seil Road. Featuring carnival, live music, craft show, bags tournament, car show and more.

Aug. 10: Joliet Blues Festival at Billie Limacher Bicentennial Park, 201 W. Jefferson St. Free parking. Live music, food trucks; entertainment includes Joe Asselin, The Sean McKee Band, Brother John Kattke with Marqueal Jordan, and The Mike Wheeler Band with Peaches Staten.

Aug. 21–25: Will County Fair at the Will County Fairgrounds, 710 W South St. in Peotone. Featuring a demolition derby, tractor and truck pull, baby show, chili cookoff and more. Find the full schedule of events on the website. Free admission.

Kendall County

June 13–16: Oswego PrairieFest at PrairieFest Park, 91 Plank Drive in Oswego.Featuring live entertainment, parade, 5K and 1-mile race, carnival and more. Headliners include The Ron Burgundys, Deana Carter, Better Than Ezra and American English.

July 20: Yorkville River Fest at Riverfront Park, 131 E. Hydraulic Ave. Featuring live music, free family activities, cardboard boat race, craft beer tasting and more.

Aug. 1–4: Kendall County Fair at the Kendall County Fairgrounds. Free admission. Offers live music, truck and tractor pulls, livestock competitions, food vendors, beer garden and more.

Aug. 16-18: Montgomery Fest at Montgomery Park, 301 N. River St. Featuring fireworks, carnival, beer tent, car show, carp fishing derby.

Aug. 29–Sept. 1: Yorkville Hometown Days at Beecher Community Park, 901 Game Farm Road. Baby contest, Big Band & BBQ, car show, live music, Ultimate Air Dogs competition.

DeKalb County

Sept. 4-8: Sandwich Fair. Truck and tractor pulls, carnival rides, food vendors, livestock exhibits, live music and more.

DuPage County

July 13: Naperville Ale Fest at Naper Settlement, 523 S Webster St. Over 100 craft beers, food trucks. Tickets are $60 for general admission. General admission is from 2 to 6 p.m.

July 25–28: DuPage County Fair at the DuPage County Fairgrounds, 2015 Manchester Road, Wheaton. Live music, vintage vendors, food, animal exhibits and more. Kids five and under are free; $12 per adult ages 13 and up, kids ages 6 to 12 are $8.

Aug. 10–11: Veggie Fest on the grounds of Danada South Park, Navistar Circle in Lisle. Free admission and free parking. Over 100 vendor tents, 27 foot booths, food demos, live bands and more.

Aug. 30–Sept. 2: Naperville Jaycees' Last Fling in and around downtown Naperville. Free-to-attend event. Features live music, Labor Day parade, carnival, food vendors and more.

Lake County

July 18-21: Highwood Days-North Shore Taco Fest takes place in the parking lot of the Highwood Metra station with a wide range of tacos and other foods from local restaurants, carnival, live music.

Aug. 24-25: Port Clinton Arts Festival in downtown Highland Park. 250 top juried artists, Kids Art Zone, face painting tent. Free entry.