Autumn In The Suburbs: Guide To The Chicago Area's Top Fall Festivals

CHICAGO — As the days grow shorter and the air crisper, Chicago area residents have begun planning for the fall. With meteorological fall already begun and the autumnal equinox just around the corner, the end of summer brings with it a vibrant array of festivals and events celebrating the spirit of the season.

From Oktoberfests, pumpkin patches, harvest fests, apple picking, corn mazes and more, the Chicago area are brimming with opportunities to embrace the autumn. To help make the most of the festive fall, Patch has compiled a guide of the best fall festivals and events in the Chicago suburbs.

So get ready to get your scarves and sweaters out of storage and get ready to savor the season!

NORTH SUBURBS

Sept. 9: Wings Over Waukegan
Waukegan National Airport, 2601 W. Plane Rest Drive, Waukegan
The 2023 Northern Illinois Air Show will feature acrobatic performances from a variety of vintage military aircraft. This year, a A-10 Warthog demonstration team will be on hand. Kids and military are free, doors open at 9:30 a.m. with the show set to begin at noon.

Sept. 9-10: Mundelein Arts Festival
Kracklauer Park, 100 N. Seymour Ave., Mundelein
The 12th annual juried art event will feature 45 top artists, plus artwork by select students from Mundelein High School and Carmel Catholic. Cash prizes and scholarship money will be awarded to winning artists, and local musicians will perform throughout the day.

Sept. 15-17: Des Plaines Fall Fest
2200 Lake St., Des Plaines
The Des Plaines Family Festival includes main stage entertainment, a carnival, a pie-eating contest, a kids zone with face painting, a petting zoo and climbing wall, and a classic car show on Sunday.

Sept. 15-17: Palatine Oktoberfest
170 W. Slade St., Palatine
The festival begins with a tapping of the ceremonial keg and remarks from local dignitaries on Friday evening. Saturday will be family day, starting with a casual bike ride starting at Towne Square at 11 a.m.

Sept. 15-Sept. 16: Elk Grove Village Oktoberfest
Rotary Green, 164 Lions Drive, Elk Grove Village
Organizers promise an unforgettable weekend of authentic German delicacies, beer, and live music at the 6th annual Elk Grove Village Oktoberfest. Tickets for food and drink are available for purchase for a 20 percent discount before Sept. 11.

Sept. 16-Oct. 29, Wednesdays-Mondays: Happy Times Pumpkin Fest at Didier Farms
16678 Aptakisic Road, Lincolnshire
The north suburban fall tradition will feature amusement rides, shows, pumpkin sales, fall treats and more family-friendly fun. Admission and parking is free, attractions are $4 or $6 each.

Sept. 17: 1-5 p.m.: Fallapalooza
201 Community Blvd., Wheeling
The free afternoon event at Heritage Park will include live music, a petting zoo, pony rides, inflatables, airbrush tattoos. Several local food trucks are due to attend.

Sept. 22-23: Mount Prospect Oktoberfest
Emerson Street and Busse Avenue, Mount Prospect
The village celebrates its heritage with two evenings of German food, music and spirits. A family fall fest kicks off with a special needs hour from noon to 1 p.m. on Saturday and an afternoon of live entertainment, crafts, activities and food through 4 p.m.

Sept. 22-24: Historic Downtown Long Grove Apple Fest
145 Old McHenry Road, Long Grove
Tickets are $5 for one day and $10 for all three fun-filled days of live music, from solo acts to touring bands, accompanied by a variety of delicious apple-based specialties — from apple pies to apple donuts to candied apple, apple wine or caramel- or chocolate-dipped apples.

Sept. 23, 4-7 p.m.: Winnetka Fall Fest
600 Hibbard Road, Winnetka
The community event will include music, food trucks and drinks for purchase. Wristbands will be required for kids events, including pony rides, inflatables and a petting zoo.

Sept. 29-Oct. 1: Huntley Fall Fest
12015 Mill St., Huntley
The 18th annual three-day fall fest features free entertainment and fireworks on Saturday night, with a full carnival midway, beer garden and live music each day.

Sept. 30, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.: Lake County Family Fun Festival
19351 W. Washington St., Grayslake
Hosted by the College of Lake County, the annual fall fest is set to include an outdoor games competition designed for those ages 6 months and up, as well as a talent show, kids fun zone, community resource tables and free treats while supplies last.

Sept. 30, noon-10 p.m.: Oktoberfest at The Lot
523 Central Ave., Highland Park
The free event is set to include traditional contests including a beer stein-holding contest, crafts and an interactive dance and singalongs with a family focus from noon to 4 p.m. Seven-piece Chicago band Die Musikmeisters will be on hand to perform a mix of traditional German music and American swing and rock classics.

Oct. 6-8: The Great Highwood Pumpkin Fest
Everts Park, 111 North Ave., other downtown Highwood locations
The 13th annual festival will again feature an attempt to break Keane, New Hampshire's world record of 30,581 jack-o'-lanterns on display. Events will be held around town, with a full carnival at the Metra station parking lot, as well as all-you-can-carve pumpkin stations, two stages of live music and contests for costumes and pumpkin pie eating.

Oct. 7, 11 a.m.-2 p.m.: Autumn Harvest
E. Eastman Street and Evergreen Avenue, Arlington Heights
The free festival at North School Park is due to feature a scarecrow building contest, games, hayrides, crafts, live music and and more, with food available to purchase.

Oct. 9, noon-5 p.m.: Downtown Evanston Fall Fest
Fountain Square, 1601 Sherman Ave., Evanston
This free event is the only fundraiser for the Downtown Evanston merchants group. This year's Sunday afternoon block party will include music, art and crafts activities, food and beverages, an artist and maker's market, henna designs, mini-pumpkin decorating, mask-making and more.

SOUTH SUBURBS

Sept. 7-10: St. Cletus Fall Fest
600 W. 55th St., La Grange
The popular fall fest returns for the first time in four years, with rides, games, food, music and more. The four-day festival will also include a showing of the Chicago Bears against the Green Bay Packers game on Sunday.

Sept. 8-10: Monee Fall Fest
5130 W. Court St., Monee
Organizers of the village's fall fest expect about 2,000 visitors a day, with live music, a carnival, fireworks, a beer garden, arts and crafts, garage sales and more.

Sept. 9: Flossmoor Fest
Sterling Avenue and Flossmoor Road
The daylong event will include mainstage entertainment, free kids activities and a variety of local food and drink options. A new youth supervision policy will require those 17 and under be accompanied by someone 21 or over, who may accompany up to six minors.

Sept. 15-17: Oktoberfest Tinley Park
18001 S. 80th Ave., Tinley Park
Featuring a carnival, ceremonial keg tapping, authentic German food, traditional and modern musical entertainment and local vendors, the three-day festival takes place in the Metra station parking lot.

Sept. 15-16: Autumn in the Park Festival
901 W. 123rd St., Palos Park
The two-day festival begins with music and vendors on Friday evening and continues all day Saturday, starting with a parade and featuring a petting farm, roaming magician, crafts, yoga, a bags tournament and more.

Sept. 16, 6:30-9:30 p.m.: Orland Park Brewfest
5655 S. Ravinia Ave., Orland Park
This 21-and-over event offers an opportunity to sample more than 50 types of craft beer, with dinner and live entertainment also planned.

Sept. 23: Joliet PrideFest
201 W. Jefferson St., Joliet
The annual pride fest is set to feature live music, face painting, magic acts, a resource fair, bingo, a video game truck, "animal ambassadors," axe-throwing and storytimes. Admission is free but premium seating is available for a fee.

Sept. 23: Elim Dutch Festival
13020 S. Central Ave., Crestwood
The Dutch Festival starts with a pancake breakfast and features main stage entertainment all day long. The festival will feature reptile shows, children's games, a farmer's market, and traditional Dutch dancing, food and crafts.

Sept. 23: Homewood Fall Fest
Martin Ave from Hickory Road to Ridge Road, Homewood
The downtown Homewood fall festival will feature live entertainment, craft vendors, a pumpkin patch, children’s crafts, kid-friendly activities and food from local eateries.

Oct. 1: Worth Family Fall Fest
109th and Nordica, Worth
The kid-friendly event will include hayrides through Gale Moore Park, pony rides, a petting zoo, pumpkin patch, beer and wine garden, Sunday football, food vendors, live music and more. Wristbands for unlimited pony rides will be available for purchase from 1-5 p.m.

Oct. 8: Evergreen Park Oktoberfest
3450 W. 97th St., Evergreen Park
A day of events at the community center at Klein Park will include a stein-hoisting competition, line dancing, a DJ, live music, a beer garden and more. Admission is free.

Oct. 14, noon-2 p.m.: All The Fall Things
7606 W. College Drive, Palos Heights
This new free fall all-ages community event at Memorial Park is due to include a pumpkin patch, pet parade, costume contest and live music.

WEST SUBURBS

Sept. 8-10: Batavia Oktoberfest
Sturdy Shelter Brewing, 10 S. Shumway Ave., Batavia
Batavia MainStreet's first Oktoberfest includes special events all weekend, including live German polka music Saturday.

Sept. 8-10: Festival of the Vine
James Street between South 4th and 5th, Geneva
Local restaurant will offer a variety of specialties under an outdoor tent, partnered with wine and live music. There will also be an arts sow, horse-drawn carriage rides and several wine tasting and food events.

Sept. 9, 2-10 p.m.: Glen Ellyn Backyard BBQ
Downtown Metra parking lot, 384 Duane St., Glen Ellyn
Now in a new location, the 15th annual barbeque competition benefiting Bridge Communities will include live music, food vendors and a kid-friendly Piglet Playland.

Sept. 9, 5-10 p.m.: Oktoberfest Clarendon Hills
Burlington Plaza on North Prospect and Sloan Triangle on South Prospect
The second annual fest will include more than a dozen handles of traditional German and German-inspired beers, live music at both locations, a bags tournament, skill games and costume contest and more.

Sept. 9-10, 10 a.m.-5 p.m.: Art on the Fox
Main and Washington streets, Algonquin
The downtown Algonquin festival is set to feature the original work of 75 artists, along with a kid zone for art project and games, face painting and live classes. Live music is scheduled for Saturday evening with yoga on Sunday morning.

Sept. 10: Scandinavia Day Festival
35W217 Route 31, South Elgin
The 43rd annual festival celebrates the heritage of the five Nordic counties — Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway and Sweden — and brings together the local Scandanavian community. Traditional foods, vendors, children activities, a living history table and more.

Sept. 15-16: Berwyn Oktoberfest
3229 Grove Ave., Berwyn
The free, family-friendly annual event will include a Biergarten with special seasonal selections, an international food court and live music in Berwyn's Depot District just off the Metra BNSF lines Berwyn station.

Sept. 23, 2-5 p.m.: Autumn Fest
Central Park, 1500 Forest Gate Road, Oak Brook
Presented by the Oak Brook Park District, the free event begins with kids entertainment and will also include musical performances form the Hinsdale School of Rock.

Oct. 1: Eddie Biondo Fall Fest Parade
North Park, 10040 Addison Ave., Franklin Park
The 45th annual parade is presented by the park district starting at Grand Avenue and Scott Street and heads North Park, where a pumpkin fest will take place immediately following the parade.

Oct. 6-8: St. Charles Scarecrow Weekend
Route 64 and Fox River, Saint Charles
The 38th annual event will include more than 85 scarecrow around town, a family zone with live entertainment, an activity zone with festive photo ops, scarecrow-to-go and family activities.

Oct. 6-7: Naper Settlement Oktoberfest
523 S. Webster St., Naperville
Traditional German food and beer will be flowing at Naper Settlement with live traditional music Friday and a mix of more modern musical styles on Saturday. The festival will also feature family-friendly lawn games, a professional pumpkin carver and a stein-holding contest.

Oct. 7: Villa Park Brewfest
Cortesi Veterans Memorial Park, 319 E. Kenilworth Ave., Villa Park
The 5th annual Villa Park brewfest celebrates local and regional craft beer and food truck cuisine. The event will feature more than 80 styles of craft beer and hard ciders. Children and pets are prohibited.

Oct. 14-15: 10 a.m.-4 p.m.: Cantigny Fall Festival
Parade Field, 1 S 151 Winfield Road, Wheaton
Two days of autumn fun are planned at Cantigny Park. The festival traditionally includes live music, hayrides crafts and more. Parking is $15 per car.