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 2026 ILLINOIS - AUGUST 2026
Food & Wine Festivals, Shows, Events
(see also: 2025 - 2024 - 2023 - 2022 - 2021 - 2019 - 2015)
August , 2026
New Orleans North Festival
Joliet, Illinois
EVENT HAS BEEN DISCONTINUED. August 6-9, 2026
79th 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. Visitors, 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. Come to Mendota for one of the Midwest's oldest and largest harvest festivals. Attendance: 60,000. August 8-9, 2026 16th Annual Veggie Fest Chicago - Lisle, Illinois
One of North America’s largest and most celebrated vegetarian food and wellness festivals, Veggie Fest is gearing up for another incredible weekend of food, fun, and inspiration. Great food at the international food court. Live music. Vegetarian food demonstrations from chefs around the country. Internationally recognized expert speakers on the health benefits of a plant-based diet. Interactive children’s tent. Yoga and meditation. 75+ vendors on healthy living. Attendance: 40,000.
August 9, 2026 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 12, 2026 Taste of Andersonville - Chicago, Illinois
The Andersonville Chamber of Commerce (ACC) is excited to bring back a fan favorite to our events roster with Taste of Andersonville. We have cultivated two routes, the Fork Route and a Spoon Route, that allow you to meander your way up and down Clark tasting some of the best restaurants that Andersonville has to offer. You may also have a chance to discover a new spot or a hidden gem. August 13-16, 2026 69th Sycamore Steam Show - Sycamore, Illinois
Operational steam engines, old tractors, small utility engines, and miniature train rides are the featured attractions at the 60th annual festival. August 13-23, 2026 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 17-19, 2026 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 19-21, 2026 U.S. Apple Association Outlook 2026
Chicago, Illinois
Apple Crop Outlook & Marketing Conference. The premier event of the year for the apple industry. August 21-23, 2026 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 28-30, 2026 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 28-30, 2026 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
2025 ILLINOIS - AUGUST 2025
Food & Wine Festivals, Shows, Events
events waiting for new datesAugust , 2025 - Springfield Oyster and Beer Festival
Springfield, Illinois - EVENT DISCONTINUED. August 8-9, 2025 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 8-10, 2025 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 9, 2025 - Taste of Chicago Albany Park - Chicago, Illinois
Taste of Chicago will return this year with food and music events in several Chicago neighborhoods. August 23, 2025 Zoo Uncorked: Wines & Vines - Brookfield, Illinois
Sip, savor, and explore at Wines & Vines, Brookfield Zoo Chicago’s exclusive 21+ event featuring our brand new, breathtaking Bramsen Tropical Forests habitat! Animals in this spectacular new habitat will be viewable for the beginning portion of the evening; enjoy a selection of fine wines and cocktails as you explore the lush beauty and vibrant atmosphere of the rainforest.
2024 ILLINOIS - AUGUST 2024
Food & Wine Festivals, Shows, Events
events waiting for new datesAugust 2-4, 2024 - 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.
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.
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.
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. | 
