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 2024 ILLINOIS - AUGUST 2024
Food & Wine Festivals, Shows, Events
(see also: 2023 - 2022 - 2021 - 2019 - 2015 - 2014 - 2008)
August 11-14, 2024
CHART 104 Hospitality Training Conference
Chicago, Illinois
Council of Hotel & Restaurant Trainers (CHART). August 16, 2024
New Orleans North Festival
Joliet, Illinois
New Orleans North is an outdoor Mardi Gras-style music event. It features bands, beer tents, food and street entertainment. The New Orleans atmosphere is enhanced this year as the location moves to its a new home: The Joliet Slammer Stadium. There will be plenty of Hurricane drinks, street performers, a hookah alley, local art and more to uplift the mood. August 17, 2024 Taste of Chicago Pullman Park - Chicago, Illinois
Taste of Chicago will return this year with food and music events in several Chicago neighborhoods.
2023 ILLINOIS - AUGUST 2023
Food & Wine Festivals, Shows, Events
events waiting for new datesAugust , 2023 - Annual Taste of Peoria - Peoria, Illinois
EVENT CANCELED FOR 2023. Takes place on the Peoria riverfront. In addition to a variety of food samples, the event features free live entertainment on two stages. August 1, 2023 - IFMA Fundamentals Seminar - Chicago, Illinois
International Foodservice Manufacturers Association. The 1-day training in downtown Chicago will give you the very latest on the food-away-from-home industry including how segments and processes are defined, how product flows through the supply chain, and how buyers are making decisions.
August 4-6, 2023 - Festa Italiana - Naperville, Illinois
We are thrilled to announce that Festa Italiana is returning better than ever, to Naperville, IL at the amazing Naper Settlement. Festa Italiana is a showcase of authentic Italian culture, music, food, artisans, and so much more! With thousands of attendees each year, we’re proud to celebrate our fourth year of Festa, and are excited to present a 3 day extravaganza with 2 stages (Italian & rock), family friendly entertainment, artists, and the celebrated Zoppé Family Circus. Feast your eyes on amazing dancers, singers, and circus performers, and then feast on the best Italian food Illinois has to offer. Attendance: 50,000 August 6, 2023 Peach Festival - Grafton, Illinois
Nothing pairs better than a warm, summer day and a ripe, juicy peach! The Peach Festival will feature local famers displaying their delicious local peaches as well as some of those famous Calhoun Peaches hand picked that morning and still warm from the sunshine. Come on out to the Pere Marquette State Park, and join us for an afternoon of fun, festivities and peaches. There will be live entertainment, craft vendors, tons of family friendly fun and all the ripe, juicy peaches you can eat! August 10-13, 2023 66th Sycamore Steam Show & Threshing Bee
Sycamore, Illinois
Operational steam engines, old tractors, small utility engines, and miniature train rides are the featured attractions at the 60th annual festival. August 10-13, 2023 76th Annual Mendota Sweet Corn Festival
Mendota, Illinois
Tons of free, hot, buttered, delicious Del Monte sweet corn will be the highlight of the annual Sweet Corn Festival The Mendota Area Chamber of Commerce is preparing for the gigantic undertaking of hosting over 60,000 visitors, who consume nearly 50 tons of sweet corn during the festival weekend. Free musical entertainment is in abundance. The Crafters Market Place and flea market features over 200 dealers in hand made crafts and unique merchandise. There is a Queen Pageant, beer garden with live bands, grand parade and a carnival with rides and games for both adults and children, plus much more. The midways are lined with food booths, featuring a multitude of ethnic, regional and festival foods, but the "BIG EVENT" is the serving of the free Del Monte sweet corn on Sunday afternoon. For over 70 years, it has been cooked to its golden goodness with the help of a vintage steam engine. The good times are waiting, the welcome mat is out, come to Mendota for one of the Midwest's oldest and largest harvest festivals. Attendance: 60,000. August 10-20, 2023 Illinois State Fair - Springfield, Illinois
The annual showcase of Illinois agriculture and unique entertainment includes Illinoisans of the Day, a parade, more than 100 rides, Conservation World, Ethnic Village, Illinois Wine Experience, and horse racing on one of the fastest dirt tracks in the world. Don't miss the Butter Cow, in which 500 pounds of butter are used to sculpt a life size figure. Attendance: 700,000. August 11-12, 2023 Annual Cobden Peach Festival - Cobden, Illinois
The festival celebrates the area's peach harvest with a parade, carnival, pageant, 5k run/walk, homemade peach desserts, and lots of fresh peaches! August 11-13, 2023 Serb Fest - Chicago, Illinois
Enjoy live music, sample bbq lamb/pig hot off the spit, indulge in homemade strudels, crepes, and donuts. Check out kids activities and cultural tours. Bring the entire family to enjoy a taste of Serbia. August 14-16, 2023 ITPA Truck & Tractor Pulls - Springfield, Illinois
This event is truly a much anticipated event as far as both the pullers and fans are concerned, it’s been a ‘must see’ on everyone’s calendar, and thanks to the ITPA we are able to bring this series and the sport of professional truck and tractor pulling to the established legions as well as a new wave of fans. August 17-18, 2023 U.S. Apple Association Outlook 2023
Chicago, Illinois
Apple Crop Outlook & Marketing Conference. The premier event of the year for the apple industry. August 18-20, 2023 RibFest Chicago - Chicago, Illinois
One of Chicago’s most iconic events is back bigger than ever! Finger lickin' slabs from some of the best local and national ribbers will be in the spotlight at this popular summer food/street fest. A rockin' 3-day music stage lineup featuring some of the hottest local and national rock/pop and classic indie acts as well as local tribute bands! This "saucy" happening also features arts & crafts, a daytime play area for kids, plus beer and wine. August 25-27, 2023 DeKalb Corn Fest - DeKalb, Illinois
Over 100,000 people come to enjoy the food and listen to the music at Corn Fest each year. Over 70 tons of sweet corn are consumed each year by visitors flocking to downtown DeKalb, Illinois for this fun-filled festival. Attendance: 100,000. August 25-27, 2023 Taste of Greektown - Chicago, Illinois
Hellenic pride will take center stage when this acclaimed annual culinary fest on Halsted Street in Chicago’s happening West Loop returns for its 29th year. Blending Old World traditions with a 21st century freshness, the tantalizing food and spirits from neighborhood eateries will again be the main attraction. There will also be plenty of music and entertainment including Greek bands and games for both kids and families. Opa! August 26, 2023 Zoo Brew - Brookfield, Illinois
Enjoy bears and beers, lions and lagers, aardvarks and ales...all at Brookfield Zoo's annual ZooBrew - a one-of-a-kind, 21 and over*, unique beer-tasting event featuring over 80 beers! Enjoy live music, bid on silent auction items from our participating breweries! Tickets are limited, so get yours today and come party with the animals! August 26-27, 2023 Lakeview Taco Fest - Chicago, Illinois
Whether one prefers their shells filled with traditional chicken, steak, chorizo and beef, or stuffed with imaginative ingredients such as mushrooms, seafood, goat and duck, this fall fest is a wildly popular fixture to the Windy City’s food scene. More than a dozen local eateries challenge themselves to make the tastiest tacos. The fest also features special beer and taco pairings, two music stages, crowd-pleasing Mexican wrestlers, activities for kids, and visitors can text vote for Chicago’s “Best Taco.” August 29-31, 2023 Annual Farm Progress Show - Decatur, Illinois
The Nation's Largest Outdoor Farm Show. This major agriculture event, "The Super Bowl of Agriculture", gives visitors the opportunity to see the latest equipment, seed, crop chemicals, field demonstrations, livestock handling and equine events, entertainment, and more. Farmers and ranchers from across North America and around the world visit the event to see agriculture’s latest product introductions, meet face-to-face with agribusiness professionals and gain hands-on knowledge. (also: farmprogress.com )
2022 ILLINOIS - AUGUST 2022
Food & Wine Festivals, Shows, Events
events waiting for new datesAugust 11-14, 2022 Little Italy Festa - Chicago, Illinois
Chicago's Little Italy Festa - Taylor Street. This celebration of Italian culture combines authentic Italian food specialties with unique, top-line entertainment and has become the number one Italian festival in the Chicago area. Approximately 20,000 festival goers each year enjoy beautiful European décor, delicious Italian foods , and top-notch entertainment provided by famous Italian American singers and performers from around the nation. Attendance: 20,000. August 13-14, 2022 Chicago Fried Chicken Fest - Chicago, Illinois
Fried chicken takes center stage at this new Lincoln Park festival! In addition to delicious, crunchy fried chicken, there will be live music, plenty of tasty beverages and so much more! Details coming soon!
2021 ILLINOIS - AUGUST 2021
Food & Wine Festivals, Shows, Events
events waiting for new datesAugust -, 2021 Annual Urbana Sweet Corn Festival - Urbana, Illinois
EVENT HAS BEEN DISCONTINUED. August -, 2021 - Veggie Fest Chicago - Lisle, Illinois
EVENT CANCELED DUE TO CORONAVIRUS. Veggie Fest Chicago is one of the largest veggie food and wellness festivals in North America! It’s a free & family fun festival celebrating the joy, science, food, and compassion behind the vegetarian lifestyle. Not just for vegetarians, Veggie Fest is for everyone! Whether you’re a long-time vegetarian/vegan, or you want to learn how to add more plant-based foods to your diet, or you’re just looking to have a great time, this is the summer festival for you. Visit our acclaimed international food court and food demos from leading chefs. Enjoy talks from recognized speakers and doctors sharing the latest research on health and wellness. The Children’s Tent, Yoga Tent, and Meditation Tent are unsurpassed. If you just want to kick back and enjoy a summer’s day, we have live music from some of the best bands in Chicago. Free registration and parking! Attendance: 17,000.
2019 ILLINOIS - AUGUST 2019
Food & Wine Festivals, Shows, Events
events waiting for new datesAugust 16-17, 2019
Taste of Champaign-Urbana
Champaign, Illinois
Discover the fun that awaits you at the Champaign Park District's premiere festival of the summer! It's fun for the whole family and it benefits a great cause, the Youth Scholarship Fund. August 24-25, 2019
Naperville Wine Festival
Naperville, Illinois
THIS EVENT HAS BEEN DISCONTINUED.
2015 ILLINOIS - AUGUST 2015
Food & Wine Festivals, Shows, Events
events still waiting for new datesAugust 22-23, 2015
Bash on Wabash
Chicago, Illinois
On Haitus for 2015. We are taking a break this summer to focus on promoting other South Loop events.
2014 ILLINOIS - AUGUST 2014
Food Shows and Local Food, Beer and Wine Events
events still waiting for new datesAugust 7-17, 2014
Illinois Wine Experience
Springfield, Illinois
Come and taste wines from nearly 20 Illinois wineries and enjoy live entertainment. Held daily at the Illinois State Fair, the event is sponsored by the Illinois Grape Growers and Vintners. Illinois is consistently among the top 12 wine producing states.
Attendance: 700,000.
August 23, 2014 Bacon, Sports and Beer Celebration - Chicago, Illinois
With a ticket to the Bacon, Sports & Beer Celebration once you are in everything is included. You get unlimited tastings of bacon inspired creations from 20+ of Chicago’s top restaurants, a healthy dose of beer tastings from 25+ craft breweries, plus a whole lot of fun, activities, and sports goodness. August 23-24, 2014 Bash on Wabash - Chicago, Illinois
On Haitus for 2015. We are taking a break this summer to focus on promoting other South Loop events.
2008 ILLINOIS - AUGUST 2008
Food Shows and Local Food, Beer and Wine Events
events still waiting for new datesAugust 23, 2008 Marengo vs. Harvard Sweet Corn Throwdown
Harvard & Marengo, Illinois
This event was developed to encourage people to become "locavores" by using a friendly community-based cooking challenge featuring local sweet corn growers. Harvard residents are required to use Mirai sweet corn from Twin Garden Farms in Harvard and Marengo residents are required to use sweet corn from Cody's Farm Fresh Vegetables from Purdom Farms in Marengo. Contestants can enter up to three of the five categories, which include Appetizers, Main Dish, Salad/Side Dish, Baked Goods/Dessert, and Miscellaneous. | 
