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ILLINOIS:  January  -  February  -  March  -  April  -  May  -  June  -  July  -  August  -  September  -  October  -  November/December

Check previous year if event is not yet updated to current year

2019 ILLINOIS - November & December 2019
Food Shows and Local Food, Beer and Wine Events
(see also: 2018  -  2016  -  2015)

November 7, 2019
Kouzina
Chicago, Illinois
Kouzina, a “Twist on the Classics?” The annual fundraiser for the National Hellenic Museum is one of many special occasions each year for the museum and features a night of dining, drinking and mingling with Chicago’s most-prestigious culinary elite from 6:30 – 10 p.m. Focused on integrating and appreciating Greek culture in modern society, NHM Kouzina attendees will sample delicious bites inspired by Greek cuisine from top Chicago chefs, including Chef Louie Alexakis of Avli Restaurant, Chef Larry Feldmeier of the Albert and Chef Nate Henssler of Portsmith, sip fine wines, experience remarkable panoramic views of downtown Chicago from the NHM’s Rooftop Terrace and explore the museum. Tickets are $100 per person in advance or $125 at the door.

November 7, 2019  Lincoln Square Ravenswood Wine Stroll
Chicago, Illinois
The semi-annual Wine Stroll is a lovely evening tradition where residents and visitors can browse through more than 45 restaurants and businesses in the Lincoln Square Ravenswood neighborhood.  Many of the participating businesses will feature specific wines such as sparkling, rose’, or wines from small boutique wineries. Wines are offered with delicious hors d'oeuvres from local restaurants as well.  The Wine Stroll is hosted each Spring and Fall by the Lincoln Square Ravenswood Chamber of Commerce. More than 45 businesses participate.

November 7, 2019  Whisky Live Chicago - Chicago, Illinois
The very best whiskies of the world under one roof. Mingle with producers and distillers, independent bottlers and brand ambassadors and meet the stars of the industry.

November 8-9, 2019 - FOBAB (Festival of Barrel Aged Beers)
Chicago, Illinois
This is the country’s largest celebration of wood and barrel-aged beers. Brewers around the state (and nation) craft beers that have been aged in a wooden barrel or in contact with wood to share at our annual FoBAB event, resulting in a tasting of some of the rarest beers, which may or many not be available commercially from breweries across the country! The festival grew from one to two days after popular demand, so expect double the fun.

November 8-11, 2019 - Pack Expo International - Chicago, Illinois
Pack Expo International is the largest processing and packaging trade show in the world.  Co-located with Healthcare Packaging EXPO, the event features a marketplace of 2,400+ exhibitors displaying processing and packaging equipment and technologies for virtually every vertical market, drawing 50,000 attendees and offering free educational presentations in several venues on the show floor.  Attendance: 50,000.

November 28, 2019 - THANKSGIVING DAY - Nationwide
There are so many events on Thanksgiving Day they are to numerous to list.

November 29-30, 2019  Central Illinois Farm Toy Show
Bloomington, Illinois
Holiday Inn Hotel and Suites, 3202 East Empire St. Show hours are Friday from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m., Saturday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m.  For more info call (217) 202-0967.

December 3-5, 2019 - 38th Annual Greater Peoria Farm Show
Peoria, Illinois
Illinois' largest indoor farm show.

December 3-5, 2019 - Peoria Farm Toy Show - Peoria, Illinois
At the Peoria Civic Center, 201 SW Jefferson Ave. Held in conjunction with the Greater Peoria Farm Machinery Show.  ?For more info call (309) 338-2252.

December 6, 2019  Annual Southport Holiday Stroll & Cocktail Crawl
West Lakeview, Chicago, Illinois
A longstanding tradition in West Lakeview where businesses along Southport between Belmont and Irving Park break out the holly and stay open late offering special holiday deals and festivities! The Southport Holiday Stroll is free to attend and includes special deals from local businesses, carol singers, photos with Santa, holiday treats, and other surprises!  For the Cocktail Crawl, attendees can taste over 15 different holiday-themed cocktails at participating businesses while they enjoy the festivities of the Southport Holiday Stroll. All businesses participating in the Cocktail Crawl are also part of the Southport Holiday Stroll.  With a Cocktail Crawl ticket, each cocktail taster will receive a commemorative tasting glass and map guide listing the participating businesses and various cocktails.  FOR THE KIDS: While you are sippin’ and shoppin’ your kids can have some fun too! KidCreate Studio is hosting a holiday art class for kids while you get your holiday shopping done. The kids will work on their holiday gift list too, as they will be making beautiful holiday-themed clay mosaics.

December 10, 2019
Terra Madre Day
Worldwide
A worldwide celebration of local food held every year on December 10. Through hundreds of diverse and unique events across the globe, together we show that a global food revolution grows from local roots.
 

2018 ILLINOIS - November & December 2018
Food Shows and Local Food, Beer and Wine Events
events waiting for new dates

Nov 21, 2018 to Jan 1, 2019
Gingerbread Walk Display
Belleville, Illinois
Stroll down Main Street to view 100 juried gingerbread creations displayed by downtown merchants. Ride on a horse-drawn trolley or take part in one of several gingerbread house workshops.

December 2, 2018
22nd Annual Farm Toy Show
Valmeyer, Illinois
Valmeyer FFA Alumni Farm Toy Show from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Valmeyer School.  ?For more info call (618) 939-7982.
 

2016 ILLINOIS - November & December 2016
Food & Wine Festivals, Shows, Events
events waiting for new dates

November 5-6, 2016 - Illinois Prepare to Survive Expo
Grayslake, Illinois
The "Prepare to Survive Expo" is an action-packed weekend that features a hands-on exploration into prepping, self-reliance, and disaster preparedness. More than 200 million people are affected by disasters each year. Protect yourself and your family by taking steps to be prepared. Prepping and homesteading are lifestyles of self-sufficiency and you will always have something else that you can learn and something else to do. Both urban and rural people can benefit from simple self-sufficient activities. Don't just learn about being prepared...experience it.

November 15, 2016 - Heritage Reserva Wine Dinner - Chicago, Illinois
Join us for our Heritage Reserva wine dinner and share in some amazing wines.  The perfect opportunity to taste something new to bring to Thanksgiving dinner. You will enjoy five courses perfectly paired with 5 wines and a welcome drink of the traditional txakolina wine poured from a porron. Tickets are $49. Wines include: Txispaz Getariako Txakolina, Juan Gil Dry Muscat, Verasol Navarra, 17 XI Monsant 2014,Tobles Rioja 2009 and Mayador Sidra Asturiana.

November 17, 2016 - A Wine Affair - Chicago, Illinois
A Wine Affair presents: Winder - This fall’s edition is a bit different than the last.  Dating is rough. Most of us have had our fair share of 1st dates gone wrong, one too many dating apps, and dates that put us right back on the couch with a glass (bottle) of wine.  But what if you could date… wine?  Winder has brought in 4 eligible blends from Naples, Italy for you to speed-date. Like a wine? Let it know with a ‘swipe’ ticket. Don’t like a wine? The next one’s a table away.  What would wine be without the ‘dine’ portion? We are lucky to have one of Chicago’s top Italian restaurants, Volare, that has created an exclusive menu to pair flawlessly with the 4 wines.

December 31, 2016 - Chi-Town Rising - Chicago, Illinois
 

2015 ILLINOIS - November & December 2015
Food Shows and Local Food, Beer and Wine Events
events still waiting for new dates

November 10, 2015  Meat Matters Chicago - Chicago, Illinois
Chefs Paul Fehribach (Big Jones, Chefs Collaborative Board Member), Rick Bayless (Frontera, Topolobampo, Xoco, Founding Member of Chefs Collaborative), and 12 other nationally-known chefs and food professionals are coming together for an intimate taste experience at Local Foods in Chicago. Meat Matters is a rare opportunity to explore The Butcher & Larder and Local Foods, learn about and celebrate responsibly-raised meat, and connect with leading change makers in the culinary world.