CHICAGO FESTIVAL & EVENT GUIDE

Every month is party 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.

Chicago's Top Food Festivals

Chicago's Top Music Festivals

Chicago's Free Summer Music Festivals

Search Festivals by Month:

January • February • March • April 

May • June • July • August • September

October • November • December

 

JANUARY

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McCormick Tribune Ice Skating Rink in Millennium Park Through March 2019, weather permitting

Chicago Sketch Comedy Festival Jan. 10 – 20, 2019

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

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

Cubs Convention Jan. 18 – 20, 2019

SoxFest Jan. 25 – 27, 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 Chinese New Year Celebration Feb. 5 – 19, 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 Flamenco Festival Feb. 15 – March 13, 2019

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 Feb. 24, 2019

 

MARCH 

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McCormick Tribune Ice Skating Rink in Millennium Park Through March 2019  

Chicago Flamenco Festival Feb. 15 – March 13, 2019

Chicago Beer Festival March 9, 2019 

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

My House Music Festival: Spring Edition March 22, 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 5, 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

Taste of Iceland April 11 – 14, 2019

Star Wars Celebration April 11 – 15

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

James Beard Eats Week April 16 – May 6, 2019

 

MAY 

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Chicago Kids and Kites Festival May 4, 2019

Chicago Beer Classic May 4, 2019

Pilsen Fest Cantina Crawl May 4, 2019

James Beard Eats Week April 16 – May 6, 2019

James Beard Foundation Awards May 6, 2019

Manifest Urban Arts Festival May 10

Chicago Zine Fest May 16 – 18, 2019

Mayfest May 17 – 19, 2019

Chicago Science Fest May 18, 2019

Wright Plus Architectural Housewalk May 18, 2019

Lincoln Park Wine Festival May 17 – 19, 2019

Mole de Mayo May 24 – 26, 2019

Chicago House Music Festival May 24 – 25, 2019

Chicago Memorial Day Parade May 25, 2019

Randolph Street Market Festival May 25 – 26, 2019

Belmont-Sheffield Music Fest  May 25 – 26, 2019 

Bike the Drive May 26, 2019

Navy Pier Summer Fireworks Memorial Day through Labor Day 

Illinois Craft Beer Week May 10 – 17, 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 May 31 – June 2, 2019

Taste of Mexico in Little Village May 31 – June 2, 2019

 

JUNE  

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Millennium Park Music Series Select Mondays & Thursdays, June 13 – Aug. 15, 2019

Navy Pier Summer Fireworks Memorial Day through Labor Day 

Lincoln Park Greek Fest May 31 – June 2, 2019

Taste of Mexico in Little Village May 31 – June 2, 2019

Chicago Gospel Music Festival May 31 – June 1, 2019

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

57th Street Art Fair June 1 – 2, 2019

Hyde Park Brew Fest June 1 – 2, 2019

Chicago Underground Film Festival June 5 – 9, 2019

Chicago Blues Festival June 7 – 9, 2019

Andersonville Midsommarfest June 7 – 9, 2019

Wells Street Art Festival June 8 – 9, 2019

Printers Row Lit Fest June 8 – 9, 2019

Grant Park Music Festival June 12 – Aug. 17, 2019

Cinepocalypse June 13 – 20, 2019

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

Chicago Taco & Tequila Fest June 14 – 15, 2019

Ribfest Chicago June 14 – 16, 2019

World's Largest Block Party June 21 – 22, 2019

Ruido Fest June 21 – 23, 2019

Craft Beer Festival at The Morton Arboretum June 23, 2018 

Ravenswood on Tap June 22 – 23, 2019

Pride Fest Chicago June 22 – 23, 2019

Fountain Square Artisan SummerFest June 22 – 23, 2019

Millennium Art Festival June 28-30, 2019

Pride in the Park Chicago June 29, 2019

Randolph Street Market Festival June 29 – 30, 2019

Chicago Pride Parade June 30, 2019

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

 

JULY  

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Millennium Park Music Series Select Mondays & Thursdays, June 13 – Aug. 15, 2019

Grant Park Music Festival June 12 – Aug. 17, 2019

Chicago SummerDance Wednesdays – Sundays through Aug. 24, 2019

Fourth of July Fireworks at Navy Pier July 4, 2019

Windy City Ribfest in Uptown July 4 – 6, 2019

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

West Fest July 5 – 7, 2019

Chosen Few DJs Picnic & Music Festival July 6, 2019 

Taste of Chicago July 10 – 14, 2019 

Square Roots Craft Brew & Music Festival July 12 – 14, 2019 

Irish American Heritage Festival July 12 – 14, 2019 

Windy City Smokeout July 12 – 13, 2019

Bastille Day Chicago July 13, 2019

Outside Experience, July 13 – 14, 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

Rhythm World July 22 – 28, 2019

Pitchfork Music Festival July 19 – 21, 2019

Taste of River North July 19 – 21, 2019

Sheffield Street Fest July 19 – 21, 2019

Sheffield Craft Beer Fest July 20, 2019

Sheffield Garden Walk July 19 – 21, 2019

Chalk Howard Street July 20

artfest Michigan Avenue July 20 – 21, 2019

Chicago Craft Beer Festival July 20 – 21, 2019 

Chinatown Summer Fair July 21, 2019 

Summer Wine Fest at Lincoln Park Zoo July 26

Wicker Park Fest July 26 – 28, 2019 

National Taco Championship July 27

Lincoln Square Greek Fest July 26 – 28, 2019

Randolph Street Market Festival July 27 – 28, 2019

Taste of Lincoln Avenue July 27 – 28, 2019

Chicago Margarita Festival July 27 – 28, 2019

Fiesta del Sol July 25 – 28, 2019

 

AUGUST  

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Millennium Park Music Series Select Mondays & Thursdays, June 13 – Aug. 15, 2019

Grant Park Music Festival June 12 – Aug. 17, 2019

Chicago SummerDance Wednesdays – Sundays through Aug. 24, 2019

Lollapalooza Aug. 1 – 4, 2019

Jeff Fest Aug. 2 – 4, 2019 

Edge Fest Aug. 3 – 4, 2019

Food Bowl Aug. 14 – Sept. 1

Ginza Festival Chicago Aug. 9 – 11, 2019

Retro on Roscoe Aug. 9 – 11, 2019

Chicago Hot Dog Fest Aug. 10 – 12, 2019

Bud Billiken Parade Aug. 10, 2019

Northalsted Market Days Aug. 10 – 11, 2019

My House Music Festival Aug. 10 – 11, 2019

Clark After Dark Aug. 15, 2019

Tastemaker Chicago Aug. 16 – 18, 2019

Edison Park Fest Aug. 16 – 18, 2019

Glenwood Avenue Arts Fest Aug. 16 – 18, 2019

Windy City Carnival TBD

Oak Park Microbrew Review Aug. 17

Chicago Air & Water Show Aug. 16 – 17, 2019

Pilsen Fest Aug. 17– 18, 2019

Sangria Festival Aug. 17 – 18, 2019

Chicago Women’s Funny Festival Aug. 22 – 25

Taste of Greektown Aug. 23 – 25, 2019

Logan Square Food Truck Social Aug. 23 – 25, 2019

Randolph Street Market Festival Aug. 24 – 25, 2019

Transamerica Chicago Triathlon Aug. 24 – 25, 2019

Chicago Jazz Festival Aug. 23 – September 1, 2019

North Coast Music Festival Aug. 30 – September 1, 2019

Great American Lobster Fest Aug. 30 – September 1, 2019

Taste of Polonia Aug. 30 – September 2, 2019

African Festival of the Arts Aug. 30 – September 2, 2019

 

SEPTEMBER 

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Chicago Jazz Festival Through Sept. 1, 2019  

North Coast Music Festival Through Sept. 1, 2019

Great American Lobster Fest Through Sept. 1, 2019

Taste of Polonia Through Sept. 2, 2019

African Festival of the Arts Aug. 30 – September 2, 2019

Throwback Music Festival Sept. 6 – 8, 2019

Festival de La Villita (Little Village Fest) Sept. 6 – 8, 2019

Chicago Bourbon & Barbecue Fest Sept. 7 – 8, 2019

World Music Festival Chicago Sept. 13 – 29, 2019

Dessert Fest at the Zoo Sept. 14

Lakeview East Festival of the Arts Sept. 14 – 15, 2019

Ravenswood ArtWalk Sept. 14 – 15, 2019

Riot Fest & Carnival Sept. 13 – 15, 2019

Andersonville Arts Week Sept. 19 – 22, 2019

Sam Adams' Lakeview Taco Fest Sept. 21 – 22, 2019

Chicago Architecture Biennial Sept. 19, 2019 – Jan. 5, 2020

EXPO Chicago Sept. 19 – 22, 2019

Chicago Gourmet Sept. 27 – 29, 2019

Oktoberfest Chicago at St. Alphonsus Sept. 27 – 29, 2019

West Town Art Walk Sept. 27 – 28, 2019

Randolph Street Market Festival Sept. 26 – 29, 2019

World Dumpling Fest Sept. 29, 2019

Inherit Chicago Sept. 29 – Nov. 1, 2019

Fulton Market Harvest Fest TBD

Chicago International Latino Theater Festival Sept. 19 – Oct. 27, 2019

 

OCTOBER  

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Chicago International Latino Theater Festival Sept. 19 – Oct. 27, 2019

Inherit Chicago Sept. 29 – Nov. 1, 2019

Chicago Architecture Biennial Sept. 19, 2019 – Jan. 5, 2020

Lincoln Square Apple Fest Oct. 5 – 6, 2019

West Town Food Truck Social TBD

Chicago Marathon Oct. 13, 2019

Columbus Day Parade Oct. 14, 2019

Chicago International Film Festival Oct. 16 – 27, 2019

BeerHoptacular Oct. 13, 2018 

Open House Chicago presented by Chicago Architecture Center Oct. 19 – 20, 2019

Arts in the Dark Oct. 19, 2019

Randolph Street Market Festival Oct. 26 – 27, 2019

Northalsted Halloween Parade Oct. 31, 2019

Latino Music Festival TBD

Friday Night Flights at Chicago Riverwalk Oktoberfest TBD

 

NOVEMBER  

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Inherit Chicago Sept. 29 – Nov. 1, 2019

SOFA Art + Design Fair Oct. 31 – Nov. 3, 2019

Magnificent Mile Lights Festival Nov. 22 – 23, 2019

Randolph Street Holiday Market Nov. 23 – 24, 2019

Festival of Barrel Aged Beers TBD

Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony in Millennium Park TBD

Christkindlmarket Chicago TBD

Zoolights at Lincoln Park Zoo Nov. 23 - Jan. 6, 2019

Uncle Dan's Thanksgiving Parade Nov. 28, 2019

Winter WonderFest at Navy Pier Nov. 30, 2018 – Jan. 6, 2019

Chicago Architecture Biennial Sept. 19, 2019 – Jan. 5, 2020

 

DECEMBER 

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One of A Kind Show and Sale Dec. 5 – 8, 2019

Randolph Street Holiday Market Dec. 14 – 15, 2019

Christkindlmarket Chicago TBD

New Year's Eve Fireworks at Navy Pier Dec. 31, 2019

Winter WonderFest at Navy Pier Nov. 30, 2018 – Jan. 6, 2019

Chicago Architecture Biennial Sept. 19, 2019 – Jan. 5, 2020

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

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