Every month is festival month in Chicago. Chicago’s world-renowned fests and events celebrate food, music, culture, art, and history throughout the city. Check out the festival guides below or click on a month to see what’s coming up. Here’s our festival guide for 2019 – 2020.
Search festivals by month:
January • February • March • April
May • June • July • August • September
October • November • December
December
One of a Kind Show and Sale Dec. 5 – 8, 2019
Greektown Christmas Ceremony Dec. 8
Winter Wonderfest at Navy Pier Dec. 6, 2019 – Jan. 12, 2020
Randolph Street Holiday Market Dec. 14 – 15, 2019
Historic Pullman Candlelight House Walk Dec. 8, 2019
Christkindlmarket Chicago Nov. 15 – Dec. 24, 2019
Lightscape at Chicago Botanic Garden Nov. 22 – Jan. 5, 2020
Zoolights at Lincoln Park Zoo Nov. 23 – Jan. 6, 2020
Illumination: Tree Lights at The Morton Arboretum Nov. 23 – Jan. 5, 2020
Chicago Wine Fest – Winter Dec. 19, 2019
New Year’s Eve Fireworks at Navy Pier Dec. 31, 2019
Chicago Architecture Biennial Sept. 19, 2019 – Jan. 5, 2020
Ice skating in Millennium Park November – March 2020
January
Winter Wonderfest at Navy Pier Dec. 6, 2019 – Jan. 12, 2020
Lightscape at Chicago Botanic Garden Nov. 22 – Jan. 5, 2020
Illumination: Tree Lights at The Morton Arboretum Nov. 23 – Jan. 5, 2020
Zoolights at Lincoln Park Zoo Nov. 23 – Jan. 6, 2020
Chicago Sketch Comedy Festival January 2020
Fillet of Solo Festival Jan. 10 – 26, 2020
Rhinoceros Theater Festival January/February 2020
Cubs Convention Jan. 17 – 29, 2020
Soxfest Jan. 24 – 25, 2020
First Bites Bash Jan. 23, 2020
Chicago Restaurant Week Jan. 24 – Feb. 9, 2020
Winter Brew Jan. 25 2020
Chicago Chinese New Year Celebration Jan. 24 – Feb. 9, 2020
Ice skating in Millennium Park November – March 2020
February
Chicago Ale Fest Jan. 11, 2020
Chicago Chinese New Year Celebration Jan. 24 – Feb. 9, 2020
Chicago Restaurant Week Jan. 24 – Feb. 9, 2020
Chicago Theatre Week Feb. 13 – 23, 2020
University of Chicago Folk Festival Feb. 14 – 15, 2020
Chicago Auto Show Feb. 8 – 17, 2020
Chicago Flamenco Festival February/March 2020
Frost Fest Craft Beer Festival February 2020
Randolph Street Market Festival Feb. 8 – 9, 2020
Rhinoceros Theater Festival January/February 2020
C2E2: Chicago Comic and Entertainment Expo Feb. 28 – March 1, 2020
Ice skating in Millennium Park November – March 2020
March
Ice skating in Millennium Park November – March 2020
C2E2: Chicago Comic and Entertainment Expo Feb. 28 – March 1, 2020
Chicago Flamenco Festival February/March 2020
Chicago Beer Festival March 14, 2020
Southside Irish Parade March 15, 2020
Northwest Side Irish Parade March 15, 2020
Chicago Flower & Garden Show at Navy Pier March 18 – 22, 2020
St. Patrick’s Day Downtown Parade & River Dyeing March 14, 2020
Good Food Festival March 2020
My House Music Festival: Spring Edition March 2020
Macy’s Flower Show March 2020
Chicago White Sox home opener March 26, 2020
Chicago Cubs home opener March 30, 2020
April
Chicago Dance Month April 2020
Baconfest Chicago April 18, 2020
Macy’s Flower Show April 2020
I Heart Halal April 2020
One of a Kind Show and Sale | Spring Show April 24 – 26, 2020
Chicago Wine Fest – Spring April 2020
Randolph Street Market Festival April 25 – 26, 2020
May
Chicago Kids and Kites Festival May 2, 2020
Chicago Beer Classic May 2020
Pilsen Fest Cantina Crawl May 2020
James Beard Foundation Awards May 4, 2020
Manifest Urban Arts Festival May 2020
Chicago Zine Fest May 2020
Mayfest May 2020
Chicago Science Fest May 2020
Wright Plus Architectural Housewalk May 2020
Lincoln Park Wine Festival May 2020
Mole De Mayo May 2020
Chicago House Music Festival May 21 – 23, 2020
Chicago Memorial Day Parade May 23, 2020
Randolph Street Market Festival May 23 – 24, 2020
Belmont-Sheffield Music Fest May 2020
Bike The Drive May 2020
Navy Pier Summer Fireworks Memorial Day through Labor Day
Illinois Craft Beer Week May 2020
Chicago Gospel Music Festival May 26 – 30, 2020
Do Division Street Fest & Sidewalk Sale May 2020
Lincoln Park Greek Fest May 2020
Taste Of Mexico In Little Village May 2020
June
Millennium Park Music Series Select Mondays & Thursdays, June – August 2020
Navy Pier Summer Fireworks Memorial Day through Labor Day
Lincoln Park Greek Fest June 2020
Taste Of Mexico In Little Village June 2020
Chicago Gospel Music Festival June 2020
Do Division Street Fest & Sidewalk Sale June 2020
57th Street Art Fair June 2020
Hyde Park Brew Fest June 2020
Old Town Art Fair June 13 – 14, 2020
Chicago Underground Film Festival June 2020
Chicago Blues Festival June 5 – 7, 2020
Andersonville Midsommarfest June 2020
Wells Street Art Festival June 2020
Printers Row Lit Fest June 2020
Grant Park Music Festival June 2020
Cinepocalypse June 2020
Craft Brews At Lincoln Park Zoo June 2020
Chicago Taco & Tequila Fest June 2020
Ribfest Chicago June 2020
World’s Largest Block Party June 2020
Ruido Fest June 2020
Craft Beer Festival at The Morton Arboretum June 2020
Ravenswood On Tap June 2020
Pride Fest Chicago June 2020
Fountain Square Artisan Summerfest June 2020
Millennium Art Festival June 2020
Pride In The Park June 2020
Randolph Street Market Festival June 2020
Chicago Pride Parade June 28, 2020
Chicago Summerdance June 25 – Aug. 22, 2020
July
Millennium Park Music Series Select Mondays & Thursdays, June – August 2020
Grant Park Music Festival Summer 2020
Chicago Summerdance June 25 – Aug. 22, 2020
Fourth Of July Fireworks At Navy Pier July 4, 2020
Windy City Ribfest In Uptown July 2020
African/Caribbean International Festival Of Life July 2020
West Fest July 2020
Chosen Few Djs Picnic & Music Festival July 2020
Taste of Chicago July 8–12, 2020
Square Roots Craft Brew & Music Festival July 2020
Irish American Heritage Festival July 2020
Windy City Smokeout July 10 – 12, 2020
Bastille Day Chicago July 2020
Outside Experience July 2020
Southport Art & Music Fest July 2020
Roscoe Village Burger Fest July 2020
Dearborn Garden Walk July 2020
Rhythm World July 2020
Pitchfork Music Festival July 2020
Taste of River North July 2020
Sheffield Street Fest July 2020
Chalk Howard Street July 2020
Artfest Michigan Avenue July 2020
Chicago Craft Beer Festival July 2020
Chinatown Summer Fair July 2020
Summer Wine Fest At Lincoln Park Zoo July 2020
Wicker Park Fest July 2020
National Taco Championship July 2020
Lincoln Square Greek Fest July 2020
Randolph Street Market Festival July 25 – 26, 2020
Taste Of Lincoln Avenue July 2020
Chicago Margarita Festival July 2020
Fiesta Del Sol July 2020
Lollapalooza July 30 – Aug. 2, 2020
August
Chicago Jazz Festival Aug. 28 – Sept. 6, 2020
North Coast Music Festival August/September 2020
Great American Lobster Fest August/September 2020
Taste of Polonia August/September 2020
African Festival of the Arts August/September 2020
Millennium Park Music Series Select Mondays & Thursdays, June – August 2020
Grant Park Music Festival Summer 2020
Chicago Summerdance June 25 – Aug. 22, 2020
Lollapalooza July 30 – Aug. 2, 2020
Jeff Fest August 2020
Edge Fest August 2020
Ginza Festival August 2020
Retro On Roscoe August 2020
Chicago Hot Dog Fest August 2020
Bud Billiken Parade August 2020
Northalsted Market Days August 2020
My House Music Festival August 2020
Clark After Dark August 2020
Edison Park Fest August 2020
Glenwood Avenue Arts Fest August 2020
Windy City Carnival August 2020
Oak Park Microbrew Review August 2020
Chicago Air & Water Show Aug. 15 – 16, 2020
Pilsen Fest August 2020
Sangria Festival August 2020
Chicago Women’s Funny Festival August 2020
Taste Of Greektown August 2020
Logan Square Food Truck Social August 2020
Randolph Street Market Festival August 2020
Transamerica Chicago Triathlon August 2020
September
Chicago Jazz Festival Aug. 28 – Sept. 6, 2020
North Coast Music Festival August/September 2020
Great American Lobster Fest August/September 2020
Taste of Polonia August/September 2020
African Festival of the Arts August/September 2020
Throwback Music Festival September 2020
Festival De La Villita (Little Village Fest) September 2020
Donut Fest at the Zoo September 2020
World Music Festival Chicago Sept. 11 – 27, 2020
¡Súbelo! – A Celebration of Pan Latin Music and Culture Sept. 11 – 12, 2020
Chicago Bourbon & Barbecue Fest September 2020
Lakeview East Festival of the Arts September 2020
Ravenswood Artwalk September 2020
Riot Fest & Carnival September 2020
Friday Night Flights at Chicago Riverwalk September 2020
Andersonville Arts Week September 2020
Sam Adams’ Lakeview Taco Fest September 2020
Chicago Architecture Biennial September 2020
Expo Chicago September 2020
Chicago Gourmet September 2020
Oktoberfest Chicago At St. Alphonsus September 2020
Randolph Street Market Festival Sept. 12 – 13, 2020
Beerhoptacular September 2020
World Dumpling Fest September 2020
Inherit Chicago September 2020
Chicago International Latino Theater Festival September/October 2020
October
Chicago International Latino Theater Festival September/October 2020
Inherit Chicago September – November 2020
Lincoln Square Apple Fest October 2020
Historic Pullman House Tour October 2020
Chicago Marathon Oct. 11, 2020
Columbus Day Parade Oct. 12, 2020
Chicago International Film Festival October 2020
Open House Chicago Oct. 17 – 18, 2020
Arts in the Dark October 2020
Beer Culture Summit October 2020
Randolph Street Market Festival October 2020
Northalsted Halloween Parade Oct. 31, 2020
Latino Music Festival October 2020
November
Inherit Chicago November 2020
Sofa Art + Design Fair November 2020
Magnificent Mile Lights Festival November 2020
Randolph Street Holiday Market Nov. 21 – 22, 2020
Festival of Barrel Aged Beers November 2020
Christkindlmarket Chicago November – Dec. 24 2020
Caroling at Cloud Gate Nov. 27 – Dec. 18, 2020
Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony November 2020
Zoolights at Lincoln Park Zoo November 2020 – January 2021
Lightscape at Chicago Botanic Garden November 2020 – January 2021
Illumination: Tree Lights at The Morton Arboretum November 2020 – January 2021
Thanksgiving Parade Nov. 26, 2020
Ice skating in Millennium Park November 2020 – March 2021
Please note that dates are subject to change. Visit event websites for details and the latest updates.
Explore more Chicago festivals:
Chicago’s top musical festivals
Chicago’s free summer music festivals
