CHICAGO FESTIVAL & EVENT GUIDE

Chicago's world-renowned festivals and events celebrate food, music, culture, art and history throughout the city.

Every month is party month in Chicago. Check out the festival guides below or click on a month to see what's coming up.

Chicago's Top Food Festivals

Chicago's Top Music Festivals

Chicago's Free Summer Music Festivals

Search Festivals by Month:

Jan • Feb • March • April 

May • June • July • Aug 

Sep • Oct • Nov • Dec

 

JANUARY

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McCormick Tribune Ice Skating Rink in Millennium Park  Through March 11, 2018, weather permitting

Fillet of Solo Festival  January 12-28, 2018

Rhinoceros Theater Festival  January 13-February 25, 2018  

Chicago Ale Fest January 20

SoxFest January 26 – 28, 2018 

Chicago Restaurant Week January 26-February 8, 2018

Winter Brew January 27

Randolph Street Market Festival January 27-28

 

FEBRUARY  

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McCormick Tribune Ice Skating Rink in Millennium Park Through March 4, 2018  

Chicago Restaurant Week Through February 8, 2018

Chicago Theatre Week February 8-18, 2018

University of Chicago Folk Festival February 9-10, 2018

Chicago Auto Show February 10-19, 2018

Chicago Chinese New Year Celebration February 16 - March 4, 2018

Chicago Flamenco Festival February 23-March 21, 2018

Frost Fest Craft Beer Festival February 24-25, 2018

Randolph Street Market Festival February 24-25, 2018

Rhinoceros Theater Festival  Through February 25, 2018  

Dark Side Beer Festival February 25, 2018

 

MARCH 

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The Chicago Beer Festival March 3, 2018 

McCormick Tribune Ice Skating Rink in Millennium Park  Through March 4, 2018  

Windy City BREWHAHA March 10, 2018

Southside Irish Parade March 11, 2018

Northwest Side Irish Parade March 11, 2018 

Chicago Flower & Garden Show at Navy Pier March 14-18, 2018

St. Patrick's Day Downtown Parade & River Dyeing March 17, 2018

Good Food Festival March 23-24, 2018

Randolph Street Market Festival March 24-25, 2018 

Macy's Flower Show March 25-April 8, 2018

McDonald's All American Game March 28, 2018

 

APRIL 

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Chicago Dance Month April 1-30, 2018

Chicago White Sox Opening Day at Guaranteed Rate Field April 5, 2018 

Baconfest Chicago April 6-7, 2018

Macy's Flower Show Through April 8, 2018

Chicago Cubs Opening Day at Wrigley Field April 9, 2018

C2E2: Chicago Comic and Entertainment Expo April 6-8, 2018

I Heart Halal April 13-15, 2018

One of A Kind Show and Sale | Spring Show April 27-29, 2018

Randolph Street Market Festival April 28-29, 2018

 

MAY 

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Chicago Kids and Kites Festival May 5, 2018 

Chicago Beer Classic May 5, 2018

James Beard Foundation Awards May 7, 2018

Chicago Science Fest May 8-16, 2018

Chicago Zine Fest May 18-19, 2018

Lincoln Park Wine Festival May 18-20, 2018

Mole de Mayo May 25-27, 2018 

Chicago House Music Festival May 26, 2018

Chicago Memorial Day Parade May 26, 2018

Randolph Street Market Festival May 26-27, 2018

Belmont-Sheffield Music Fest May 26-27, 2018

Bike the Drive May 27, 2018

Frank Lloyd Wright Trust presents Wright Plus Housework May 29, 2018

Navy Pier Summer Fireworks Memorial Day through Labor Day 2018

Mayfest May 31, 2018 

Chicago Craft Beer Week May 2018 dates TBD

 

JUNE  

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Millennium Park Music Series Select Mondays & Thursdays, June-August, 2018

Chicago Gospel Music Festival June 1-2, 2018

Do Division Street Fest & Sidewalk Sale June 1-3, 2018

Lincoln Park Greek Fest June 1-3, 2018 

Taste of Mexico in Little Village (4th Annual) June 1-3

57th Street Art Fair June 2-3, 2018

Hyde Park Brew Fest June 2-3, 2018

Chicago Underground Film Festival June 6-10, 2018

Ribfest Chicago June 8-10, 2018

Chicago Blues Festival June 8-10, 2018

Spring Awakening Music Festival June 8-10, 2018

Andersonville Midsommarfest June 8-10, 2018 

Bolingbrook Burgers, Beers & Blues Fest June 9-10

44th Annual Wells Street Art Festival June 9-10

Grant Park Music Festival June 13-August 18, 2018

Craft Brews at Lincoln Park Zoo June 14-16, 2018

Cinepocalypse June 21-28, 2018

World's Largest Block Party June 22-23, 2018

Ruido Fest June 22-24, 2018

Craft Beer Festival at The Morton Arboretum June 23, 2018 

Randolph Street Market Festival June 23-24, 2018  

Ravenswood on Tap June 23-24, 2018 

Gay Pride Chicago June 24, 2018

Windy City Ribfest in Uptown June 29 - July 1, 2018

Chicago SummerDance Thursdays-Sundays, June 28-August 25, 2018

Navy Pier Summer Fireworks Memorial Day through Labor Day 2018

 

JULY  

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Millennium Park Music Series Select Mondays & Thursdays, Through August, 2018

Grant Park Music Festival Through August 18, 2018

Chicago SummerDance Through August 25, 2018

Fourth of July Fireworks at Navy Pier July 4

African/Caribbean International Festival of Life July 6-8, 2018

Millennium Art Festival July 6-8, 2018

West Fest July 6-8, 2018 

Irish American Heritage Festival July 6-8, 2018

Chosen Few DJs Picnic & Music Festival July 7, 2018 

Taste of Chicago July 11-15, 2018 

Square Roots Craft Brew & Music Festival July 13-15, 2018

Windy City Smokeout July 13-15, 2018

Bastille Day Chicago July 14, 2018

5K Run To End Homelessness July 14, 2018

Southport Art & Music Fest July 14-15, 2018

Roscoe Village Burger Fest July 14-15, 2018 

Chinatown Summer Fair July 15, 2018 

Dearborn Garden Walk July 15, 2018

Rhythm World July 16-22, 2018

Pitchfork Music Festival July 20-22, 2018

Taste of River North July 20-22, 2018 

artfest Michigan Avenue July 20-22, 2018  

Festa Italiana July 20-22, 2018 

Chicago Yacht Club Race to Mackinac July 21, 2018

50th Annual Sheffield Music Festival & Garden Walk July 21-22, 2018

Chicago Craft Beer Festival July 21-22, 2018 

Summer Wine Fest July 27, 2018

Wicker Park Fest July 28-29, 2018 

Randolph Street Market Festival July 28-29, 2018

Taste of Lincoln Avenue July 28-29, 2018  

Chicago Margarita Festival July 28-29, 2018  

Chicago Open Air Music Festival July 2018 dates TBD  

Fiesta del Sol July 2018 dates TBD

Tour de Fat July 2018 dates TBD

 

AUGUST  

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Millennium Park Music Series Select Mondays & Thursdays, June-August, 2018

Grant Park Music Festival Through August 18, 2018

Chicago SummerDance Through August 25, 2018

Lollapalooza August 2-5, 2018

Jeff Fest August 3-5, 2018  

Food Bowl August 8-26

Ginza Festival Chicago August 10 & 12, 2018

Retro on Roscoe August 10-12, 2018

Northalsted Market Days August 11-12, 2018

My House Music Festival August 11-12, 2018

Asian American Theater Conference & Festival (ConFest) August 13-18

Tastemaker Chicago August 17-18, 2018

Edison Park Fest August 17-19, 2018

Glenwood Avenue Arts Fest August 17-19, 2018

Windy City Carnival August 18, 2018

Oak Park Microbrew Review August 18, 2018

Chicago Air & Water Show August 18-19, 2018

Pilsen Fest August 18-19, 2018 

Sangria Festival August 19, 2018

Taste of Greektown August  24-26, 2018 

Logan Square Food Truck Social August 24-26, 2018 

Randolph Street Market Festival August 25-26, 2018

Transamerica Chicago Triathlon August 25-26, 2018

Chicago Jazz Festival August 30-September 2, 2018

Chicago Fringe Festival August 30-September 3, 2018 

North Coast Music Festival August 31-September 2, 2018

Great American Lobster Fest August 31-September 2, 2018

Taste of Colonia August 31-September 3, 2018

African Festival of the Arts August 31 - September 3, 2018

Edge Fest August 2018 dates TBD

Chicago Hot Dog Fest August 2018 dates TBD

Bud Billiken Parade August 2018 dates TBD

Clark After Dark August 2018 dates TBD

Lincoln Square Greek Fest August 2018 dates TBD

 

SEPTEMBER 

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Chicago Jazz Festival Through September 2, 2018  

North Coast Music Festival Through September 2, 2018

Great American Lobster Fest Through September 2, 2018

Chicago Fringe Festival Through September 3, 2018 

Taste of Polonia Through September 3, 2018

African Festival of the Arts Through September 3, 2018

Windy City Wine Festival September 7-8, 2018

Throwback Music Festival September 7-9, 2018 

Festival de La Villita (aka Little Village Fest) September 7-9, 2018

World Music Festival Chicago September 7-23, 2018

Donut Fest at the Zoo September 8, 2018

Chicago Bourbon & Barbecue Fest September 8-9, 2018

Lakeview East Festival of the Arts September 8-9, 2018

Race Judicato 5K Run/Walk September 13, 2018

Chicago Turkish Festival September 13-15, 2018

Riot Fest & Carnival September 14-16, 2018

Sam Adams' Lakeview Taco Fest September 15-16, 2018 

Ravenswood ArtWalk September 15-16, 2018

Year of Creative Youth Festival September 22, 2018

EXPO Chicago September 27-30, 2018

Chicago Gourmet September 28-30, 2018

Oktoberfest Chicago at St. Alphonsus September 28-30, 2018

Randolph Street Market Festival September 29-30, 2018

Fulton Market Harvest Fest September 30-October 1, 2018 

HIP HOP SUMMERFEST September 2018 dates TBD 

West Loop Art Fest September 2018 dates TBD

Chicago International Latino Theater Festival September 2018 dates TBD

 

OCTOBER  

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Fulton Market Harvest Fest Through October 1, 2018

Harvest HopDown Beer Fest October 5, 2018

West Town Food Truck Social October 5-6, 2018

Chicago Marathon October 7, 2018

Columbus Day Parade October 8, 2018

Andersonville Arts Week October 9-14, 2018 

Chicago International Film Festival October 10-21, 2018 

BeerHoptacular October 13, 2018 

Open House Chicago presented by Chicago Architecture Foundation October 13-14, 2018

Halloween Parade of Artists October 20, 2018

Randolph Street Market Festival October 27-28, 2018

Northalsted Halloween Parade October 31, 2018

Wurst & Beer Fest October 2018 dates TBD

Latino Music Festival October 2018 dates TBD

Friday Night Flights at Chicago Riverwalk Oktoberfest October 2018 dates TBD

Chicago Ideas Week October 2018 dates TBD

 

NOVEMBER 2017

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SOFA Art + Design Fair November 1-4, 2018

Randolph Street Holiday Market November 17-18, 2018

Festival of Barrel Aged Beers November 2018 dates TBD

Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony in Millennium Park November 2018 dates TBD

Christkindlmarket Chicago November 2018 dates TBD

 Zoolights at Lincoln Park Zoo November 2018 dates TBD

 

DECEMBER 

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One of A Kind Show and Sale December 6-9, 2018 

Randolph Street Holiday Market December 15-16, 2018

New Year's Eve Fireworks at Navy Pier December 31, 2018

Winter WonderFest at Navy Pier December 2018 dates TBD

Please note that dates are subject to change. Visit individual event websites for details and the latest updates.

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