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 2019, weather permitting

Fillet of Solo Festival  Jan. 18 – Feb. 2, 2019

Rhinoceros Theater Festival  Jan. 18 – Feb. 24, 2019 

SoxFest Jan. 25 – 27, 2019

Cubs Convention Jan. 18 – 20, 2019

First Bites Bash Jan. 24, 2019

Chicago Restaurant Week Jan. 25 – Feb. 7, 2019

Winter Brew Jan. 26, 2019

 

FEBRUARY  

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McCormick Tribune Ice Skating Rink in Millennium Park Through March 2019  

Chicago Ale Fest Feb. 2, 2019

Chicago Restaurant Week Through Feb. 7, 2019

Chicago Theatre Week Feb. 7 – 17, 2019

University of Chicago Folk Festival Feb. 8 – 10, 2019

Chicago Auto Show Feb. 9 – 18, 2019

Pitchfork Midwinter at the Art Institute of Chicago Feb. 15 – 17, 2019

Chicago Chinese New Year Celebration TBD

Chicago Flamenco Festival TBD

Frost Fest Craft Beer Festival Feb. 23, 2019

Randolph Street Market Festival Feb. 23 – 24, 2019

Rhinoceros Theater Festival  Through Feb. 24, 2019  

Dark Side Beer Festival TBD

 

MARCH 

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The Chicago Beer Festival March 9, 2019 

McCormick Tribune Ice Skating Rink in Millennium Park Through March 2019  

Windy City BREWHAHA TBD

Southside Irish Parade March 17, 2019

Northwest Side Irish Parade March 17, 2019 

Chicago Flower & Garden Show at Navy Pier March 20 – 24, 2019

St. Patrick's Day Downtown Parade & River Dyeing March 16, 2019

Good Food Festival March 22 – 23, 2019

C2E2: Chicago Comic and Entertainment Expo March 22 – 24, 2019

Randolph Street Market Festival March 24 – 25, 2019 

Macy's Flower Show March 24 – April 7, 2019

 

APRIL 

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Chicago Dance Month April 1 – 30, 2019

Chicago White Sox Opening Day at Guaranteed Rate Field April 4, 2019 

Baconfest Chicago April 5 – 6, 2019

Macy's Flower Show Through April 7, 2019

Chicago Cubs Opening Day at Wrigley Field April 8, 2019

I Heart Halal April 12 – 14, 2019

One of A Kind Show and Sale | Spring Show April 26 – 28, 2019

Chicago Wine Fest April 27, 2019

Randolph Street Market Festival April 27 – 28, 2019

 

MAY 

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Chicago Kids and Kites Festival May 4, 2019

Chicago Beer Classic May 4, 2019

James Beard Foundation Awards May 6, 2019

Chicago Science Fest TBD

Chicago Zine Fest May 16 – 18, 2019

Mayfest May 17 – 19, 2019

Frank Lloyd Wright Trust presents Wright Plus Housework May 18, 2019

Lincoln Park Wine Festival TBD

Mole de Mayo May 24 – 29, 2019

Chicago House Music Festival Memorial Day Weekend 2019

Chicago Memorial Day Parade May 25, 2019

Randolph Street Market Festival May 25 – 26, 2019

Belmont-Sheffield Music Fest TBD

Bike the Drive May 26, 2019

Navy Pier Summer Fireworks Memorial Day through Labor Day 2019

Illinois Craft Beer Week TBD

Chicago Gospel Music Festival May 31 – June 1, 2019

Do Division Street Fest & Sidewalk Sale May 31 – June 1, 2019

 

JUNE  

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Millennium Park Music Series Select Mondays & Thursdays, June – August 2019

Navy Pier Summer Fireworks Memorial Day through Labor Day 2019

Chicago Gospel Music Festival May 31 – June 1, 2019

Do Division Street Fest & Sidewalk Sale May 31 – June 1, 2019

Lincoln Park Greek Fest TBD

Taste of Mexico in Little Village TBD

57th Street Art Fair June 1 – 2, 2019

Hyde Park Brew Fest June 1 – 2, 2019

Chicago Underground Film Festival June 5 – 9, 2019

Ribfest Chicago June 7 – 9, 2019

Chicago Blues Festival June 7 – 9, 2019

Spring Awakening Music Festival June 7 – 9, 2019

Andersonville Midsommarfest June 7 – 9, 2019

44th Annual Wells Street Art Festival TBD

Grant Park Music Festival Opening night June 12, 2019

Craft Brews at Lincoln Park Zoo June 14 – 15, 2019

Cinepocalypse June 13 – 20, 2019

World's Largest Block Party TBD

Ruido Fest TBD

Craft Beer Festival at The Morton Arboretum June 23, 2018 

Randolph Street Market Festival TBD

Ravenswood on Tap TBD

Pride Fest Chicago June 22 – 23, 2019

Millennium Art Festival June 26 – 20, 2019

Chicago Pride Parade June 30, 2019

Windy City Ribfest in Uptown TBD

Chicago SummerDance Wednesdays – Sundays, June 27 – August 24, 2019

 

JULY  

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Millennium Park Music Series Select Mondays & Thursdays, June – August 2019

Grant Park Music Festival Through August 2019

Chicago SummerDance Wednesdays – Sundays through August 24, 2019

Fourth of July Fireworks at Navy Pier July 4, 2019

African/Caribbean International Festival of Life July 4 – 7, 2019

West Fest TBD

Irish American Heritage Festival TBD

Chosen Few DJs Picnic & Music Festival July 6, 2019 

Taste of Chicago July 10 – 14, 2019 

Square Roots Craft Brew & Music Festival TBD

Windy City Smokeout July 12 – 13, 2019

Bastille Day Chicago July 13, 2019

Chicago Yacht Club Race to Mackinac July 13, 2019

Southport Art & Music Fest July 13 – 14, 2019

Roscoe Village Burger Fest July 13 – 14, 2019

Chinatown Summer Fair July 14, 2019 

Dearborn Garden Walk TBD

Rhythm World July 22 – 28, 2019

Pitchfork Music Festival TBD

Taste of River North TBD

artfest Michigan Avenue July 20 – 21, 2019

Sheffield Music Festival & Garden Walk TBD

Chicago Craft Beer Festival TBD

Summer Wine Fest TBD

Wicker Park Fest TBD 

Randolph Street Market Festival July 27 – 28, 2019

Taste of Lincoln Avenue TBD

Chicago Margarita Festival TBD

Fiesta del Sol July 25 – 28, 2019

Tour de Fat TBD

 

AUGUST  

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Millennium Park Music Series Select Mondays & Thursdays, June – August 2019

Grant Park Music Festival Through August 2019

Chicago SummerDance Wednesdays – Sundays through August 24, 2019

Lollapalooza August 1 – 4, 2019

Jeff Fest TBD 

Edge Fest August 3 – 4, 2019

Food Bowl TBD

Ginza Festival Chicago August 9 – 11, 2019

Retro on Roscoe August 9 – 11, 2019

Chicago Hot Dog Fest TBD

Bud Billiken Parade TBD

Northalsted Market Days August 10 – 11, 2019

My House Music Festival TBD

Asian American Theater Conference & Festival (ConFest) TBD

Clark After Dark August 15, 2019

Tastemaker Chicago TBD

Edison Park Fest August 16 – 18, 2010

Glenwood Avenue Arts Fest August 17 – 19, 2018

Windy City Carnival TBD

Oak Park Microbrew Review TBD

Chicago Air & Water Show August 16 – 17, 2019

Pilsen Fest TBD

Lincoln Square Greek Fest TBD

Sangria Festival August 17 – 18, 2019

Taste of Greektown TBD

Logan Square Food Truck Social August 24-26, 2018 

Randolph Street Market Festival August 24 – 25, 2019

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

 

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

West Loop Art Fest September 16-17, 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 26 – 29, 2019

Fulton Market Harvest Fest September 14-16, 2018 

HIP HOP SUMMERFEST September 2018 dates TBD 

Chicago International Latino Theater Festival September 20-November 4, 2018

 

OCTOBER  

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Chicago International Latino Theater Festival Through November 4, 2018

Harvest HopDown Beer Fest October 5, 2018

West Town Food Truck Social October 5-6, 2018

Chicago Marathon October 13, 2019

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 26 – 27, 2019

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  

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Chicago International Latino Theater Festival Through November 4, 2018

SOFA Art + Design Fair November 1-4, 2018

Randolph Street Holiday Market November 23 – 14, 2019

Festival of Barrel Aged Beers  November 16-17, 2018

Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony in Millennium Park   November 16, 2018

Christkindlmarket Chicago November 16 - December 24, 2018

 Zoolights at Lincoln Park Zoo November 23 - January 6, 2019

 

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 November 30, 2018-January 6, 2019

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

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