5 Tasty Chicago Events To Make You Fat After Labor Day

CHICAGO — Although summer is still lingering for a few more weeks — fall officially begins Sept. 22 — Labor Day marks the end of worrying about keeping your body in swimsuit shape. That means Chicagoans can stop being self-conscious about how they look and start packing on a few pounds of "insulation" for those cold winter months.

Thankfully, several Chicago-area events following the holiday weekend seem intent on offering people delicious ways to fill out those parkas and sweaters come December. We can't guarantee that attending these five festivals and food tastings will put you in a weight class with the Chicago Bears' offensive line, but you'll probably have a tasty time trying.

1. Donut Fest at the Zoo

When: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 8

Where: Lincoln Park Zoo, 2001 N. Clark St., Chicago

Cost: Discounted early bird tickets are $30 to $60. They can be purchased at Eventbrite. A portion of the proceeds benefit the Lincoln Park Zoo.

How It Will Make You Fat: Fest-goers can wash down all those doughnuts from local bakeries with coffee, mimosas or beer. You know who else enjoys a steady diet of beer and doughnuts? Homer Simpson.

More Info: Go to the event's website for details.

2. Forest Park Ribfest

When: 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 8

Where: Forest Park Picnic Grove, 7824 Madison St., Forest Park

Cost: Admission is free (a rib sampling, however, costs a small fee)

How It Will Make You Fat: Come for the ribs. Stay for the loaded baked potatoes, fried Snickers and Milky Ways and increase of two pants sizes.

More Info: Go to the festival's Facebook page for details.

3. 11th Annual Stems and Steins Fundraiser

When: 3 to 6:30 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 8

Where: Norwood Park Historical Center, 5624 N. Newark Ave., Chicago

Cost: Before Sept. 1, tickets to sample either 50 beers or 50 wines are $55. After Sept. 1, the cost is $65. Tickets can be purchased at Eventbrite. Proceeds benefit the Noble-Seymour-Crippen House, Chicago's oldest home in the city's Norwood Park neighborhood.

How It Will Make You Fat: Wines include selections from Spain, France, New Zealand and Napa Valley, California. Beers on the list come from breweries such as Two Brothers, Revolution Brewing and Boulevard Brewing Co. And if the alcoholic beverages don't get your waist — even sips of 50 beers or wines add up — then the self-serve buffet of pizza, pretzels and mustard, cheese and crackers, and other hors d'oeuvres and salty snacks will.

More Info: Go to the Norwood Park Historical Society's website for details.

4. Chicago Bourbon and Barbecue Fest

When: Noon to 10 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 8, and Sunday, Sept. 9

Where: 2000 W. Belmont Ave., Chicago

Cost: Admission is free. Ticketed bourbon tasting is from 1 to 4 p.m. and 5 to 8 p.m. both days. The cost of 12 sampling tickets is $35. Four tickets are only $16. They can be purchased at Eventbrite.

How It Will Make You Fat: Just reading the smoked meat specialties that will be offered by Blowin' Smoque BBQ, Main Street Grill, Rancho Mateo and the other vendors at this Roscoe Village festival is enough to meet your caloric intake for a week.

More Info: Go to the event's website for details.

5. Ukranian Village Festival

When: 1 to 10 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 8, and Sunday, Sept. 9

Where: Superior Street, between Oakley Boulevard and Leavitt Street.

Cost: Admission is free.

How It Will Make You Fat: Some of the food offered at this event includes potato pancakes, pierogi and blintzes. Have you read about those weight-loss plans that feature healthy portions of those dishes? No? Maybe because those programs don't exist.

More Info: Go to the festival's Facebook page for details.

Photo by Jason Kempin | Getty Images for NYCWFF