Illinois Summer Festival Guide 2025

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.

Will County

June 6-8: Old Canal Days in Lockport. Carnival, parade, beer garden, live entertainment, Bingo, food trucks and more.

June 20–22: Taste of Joliet at Joliet's Memorial Stadium. Featuring Billy Corgan of Smashing Pumpkins, 7th Heaven, Dylan Scott, Brett Eldredge and more. Live music, rides and plenty of food. Admission is $23 / $25 – In advance / Day of Show.

June 26-29: Homer Community Festival at Heritage Park, 14240 W. 151st St. Carnival, parade, fireworks, food vendors and more. Free admission, free parking.

June 27-29: 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 11-12: Frankfort Bluegrass Festival. Free admission, featuring live music in downtown Frankfort.

Aug. 2: Barro Fest at Settlers' Park in Plainfield. Featuring live music, beer tent and food vendors. The event will run from 1-10 p.m. at Settlers' Park and the adjacent vacant property to the west.

Aug. 7-10 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. 1-3: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. 9 Joliet Blues Festival at Billie Limacher Bicentennial Park, 201 W. Jefferson St. Free parking. Live music, food trucks; entertainment.

Aug. 6-10: Channahon's Three Rivers Festival at Central Park, Route 6 and Bluff Road. Food vendors, arts and craft show, parade and more.

Aug. 15: Joliet's New Orleans North is an outdoor Mardi Gras-style music event. It features bands, beer tents, food and street entertainment. The New Orleans atmosphere has moved to its a new home: The Joliet Slammer Stadium. The event will go from 5 to 11 p.m. There will be plenty of Hurricane drinks, street performers, a hookah alley, local art and more to uplift the mood.

Aug. 20-23: 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 thefull schedule of events on the website.

Kendall County

June 12-15: Oswego PrairieFest at PrairieFest Park, 91 Plank Drive in Oswego. Featuring live entertainment, parade, 5K and 1-mile race, carnival and more.

July 31-Aug. 3 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. 15-17: Montgomery Fest at Montgomery Park, 301 N. River St. Featuring fireworks, carnival, beer tent, car show, carp fishing derby.

Aug. 28-Aug. 31: Yorkville Hometown Days at Beecher Community Park, 901 Game Farm Road. Baby contest, Big Band & BBQ, car show, live music, Ultimate Air Dogs competition.

DuPage County

July 12: Naperville Ale Fest at Naper Settlement, 523 S Webster St. Over 100 craft beers, food trucks. General admission is from 1 to 5 p.m.

July 24-27: DuPage County Fair at the DuPage County Fairgrounds, 2015 Manchester Road, Wheaton. Live music, vintage vendors, food, animal exhibits and more.

Aug. 9-10: 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. 31–Sept. 1: 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 17-20: Highwood Days With Taste of Highwood 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. 23-24: Port Clinton Arts Festival in downtown Highland Park. 250 top juried artists, Kids Art Zone, face painting tent. Free entry.

Chicago:

June 6-8: 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 21-22: 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 31-Aug. 3: Lollapalooza in Grant Park. Featuring Luke Combs, Olivia Rodrigo, Korn, Rufus Du Sol, Twice, Sabrina Carpenter, ASAP Rocky and more. Tickets range from general admission to Platinum.

Aug. 16-17: 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. 5-7: Taste of Chicago at Grant Park. Featuring food, music and fireworks. Free admission.