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 - MAY 2024
Food Shows and Local Food, Beer and Wine Events
(see also: 2023 - 2022 - 2020 - 2019 - 2017 - 2015)
May 2, 2024
LSR 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. May 3, 2024 - School Lunch Hero Day - Nationwide
A chance to showcase the difference school nutrition professionals make for every child who comes through the cafeteria. May 3, 2024 14th Annual Beer Under Glass - Chicago, Illinois
Kick off Illinois Craft Beer Week at the annual Beer Under Glass, hosted where the State of Illinois meets the City of Chicago: under 200 feet of glass at Chicago Union Station’s Great Hall. Attendees have a guided tour of Illinois’ dynamic craft beer scene. Featuring approximately 200 pours from roughly 100 breweries from Chicago to Downstate, a once-a-year opportunity to mingle with local brewers, enjoy timeless favorites, and discover new treasures. Light refreshments will be available for purchase at the venue. May 3-10, 2024 Illinois Craft Beer Week - Various locations, Illinois
With a powerhouse lineup of in-person events and hybrid activities to support local breweries and jump start the craft beer season! From our new twist on Beer Under Glass to our first-ever Keep the Glass Fundraiser, we’re celebrating the of breweries from Chicago to Downstate and honoring everyone who brews Illinois beer, drinks Illinois beer, and supports Illinois beer!
May 4-5, 2024 - Wine on the Fox - Oswego, Illinois
Illinois wineries serving tastes of their finest wines, live music, and culinary delights along the banks of the Fox River are sure to make the Wine on the Fox a must attend annual event. May 6-9, 2024 Annual Food Safety Summit - Rosemont, Illinois
This three-day event features a full program of intensive educational seminars, highlevel industry and government keynote speakers, workshops, networking events and a large trade show exhibition. May 12, 2024 - MOTHERS' DAY - Nationwide
Most restaurants in the U.S. have special events scheduled for today. They are too numerous to list. (2nd Sun). May 14-16, 2024 Sweets & Snacks Expo - Chicago, Illinois
The SWEETS & SNACKS EXPO, sponsored by the National Confectioners Association, is among the largest confectionery, cookie and snack shows, and the only show featuring attendance from every major trade channel. Attendance: 14,000. May 17-19, 2024 Chocolate Fest - Long Grove, Illinois
Three days of live music, family activities, chocolate vendors, and chocolate experiences! Tickets, which are only $5. An amazing array of chocolate – • Vendors from far and near will be dishing out delectable treats like chocolate donuts, chocolate covered strawberries, chocolate cupcakes, cake pops, cocoa bombs, chocolate truffles, chocolate croissants, chocolate eclairs, chocolate macarons, hand-dipped fine chocolates, chocolate covered funnel cakes, chocolate popcorn, chocolate cotton candy, frozen hot chocolate, and much more. • New Chocolate Tasting Experiences; • Live Entertainment and music sprinkled throughout the historic town, from stripped down acoustic artists to Chicago’s biggest party bands; • Dedicated Children’s Area with complimentary throwback games and thrilling entertainment. May 18, 2024 70th IFMA Gold & Silver Plate Celebration
Chicago, Illinois
International Foodservice Manufacturers Association Gold & Silver Plate Awards, Recognizing Excellence Through the Premier Awards for Foodservice Operators. May 18-21, 2024 The National Restaurant Association Show
Chicago, Illinois
The National Restaurant Association Show: The International Foodservice Marketplace. The largest single gathering of restaurant, foodservice and lodging professionals in the Western Hemisphere. Attendance: 60,000. May 18-21, 2024 - A Taste of the States: Chicago - Chicago, Illinois
NASDA’s newly branded A Taste of the States: Chicago joins the National Restaurant Association Show in providing U.S. food and beverage companies the opportunity to engage with thousands of buyers in the restaurant, lodging, and foodservice industry. The Show successfully combines an impressive collection of unique food and beverage products, cutting-edge technology, and equipment with the latest in restaurant and lodging trends. Attendance: 60,000. May 19, 2024 34th Annual Rhubarb Festival - Kankakee, Illinois
Hosted by the Kankakee County Historical Society at Small Memorial Park. Join us as we celebrate the pie plant! There will be vendors, rhubarb and strawberry-rhubarb pies for sale, a baking contest, dime toss, tours of the Taylor one-room Schoolhouse and historic Dr. Small Home, and more. May 21, 2024 Sommeliers Choice Awards - Chicago, Illinois
Judging Date. Sommeliers Choice Awards is an international wine competition, organized by Beverage Trade Network, a global Beverage Industry platform. Sommeliers Choice Awards aim to provide on-premise buyers and sommeliers a valuable benchmark for understanding which wines would make a compelling addition to a wine list. This competition will be judged entirely by top sommeliers, on-premise wine buyers and wine directors at U.S. restaurants, bars, pubs, and clubs. May 29-30, 2024 Corn Dry Milling Conference - Peoria, Illinois
A forum for the entire value chain to share the latest research on corn, corn milling, consumer trends, product production, quality, and testing. May 31-June 1, 2024 Harvard Milk Days - Harvard, Illinois
Milk Days has grown from a small hay wagon stage with street dancing to a week of 30 plus different events, attended by thousands of people May 31-June 2, 2024 Lincoln Park Greek Fest - Chicago, Illinois
Lincoln Park Greek Fest will again bring the aromas, sounds, tastes and traditions of Greece to all Chicagoans in June. This popular annual cultural celebration on the grounds of St. George Greek Orthodox Church will serve up an authentic dose of “filoxenia” (Greek hospitality and generosity of spirit) along with flavorful food, great music, dancing and pure fun.
2023 ILLINOIS - MAY 2023
Food Shows and Local Food, Beer and Wine Events
events waiting for new datesMay 12, 2023 WhiskyFest Chicago - Chicago, Illinois
WhiskyFest is the longest running whisky festival in the country. WhiskyFest offers you the opportunity to taste from a selection of more than 350 whiskies from around the world; many of them rare and exclusive. Meet the whisky makers at their booths to learn first-hand how the whiskies are made. Take some time to enjoy the never-ending gourmet buffet.
2022 ILLINOIS - MAY 2022
Food Shows and Local Food, Beer and Wine Events
events waiting for new datesMay 21, 2022 Chicago Spring Tequila Tasting Festival
Chicago, Illinois
Calling all tequila lovers and connoisseurs... Take your taste buds on a flavor adventure at The Spring Tequila Tasting Festival. From Blanco, Reposado, Anejo, or even Mezcal… your taste buds will be in heaven as you sample dozens of amazing tequila & agave varieties. Now the real question is… which brand and variety will give you the mouthfeel and leave your taste buds asking for more?
2020 ILLINOIS - MAY 2020
Food Shows and Local Food, Beer and Wine Events
events waiting for new datesMay 4, 2020 Midwest Morel Fest - Ottawa, Illinois
THIS EVENT HAS BEEN DISCONTINUED. May 28-30, 2020
Annual Taste of Glen Ellyn
Glen Ellyn, Illinois
Celebrate all that Glen Ellyn has to offer during 3 days of great food, music and fun! The Taste of Glen Ellyn is a family event featuring live entertainment, The Village Fair with rides, a craft festival and a business expo. Enjoy dishes from local restaurants and vendors while
2019 ILLINOIS - MAY 2019
Food Shows and Local Food, Beer and Wine Events
events waiting for new datesMay 5, 2019
Mushroom Festival
Grafton, Illinois
It’s back! The Mushroom Festival is returning to Pere Marquette Lodge and will be bigger than ever before. Come listen to live music, browse venders, grab lunch in the restaurant, taste local wines and learn all there is to know about mushrooms. The Great Morel Hunt will be held at 1 pm (weather and morel permitting). Join fellow hunters from all over the area as they scan the ground for these delicious delicacies. Then bring your finds back to The Lodge and you could win a great prize! Find the smallest morel, the largest morel or the most morels and you just might go home with a free nights stay May 31-June 2, 2019 - Taste of Mexico - Chicago, Illinois
Chicago has a global reputation for its top Michelin and Zagat-rated restaurants. Perhaps because of the huge Mexican population, Mexican cuisine ranks high on the list of Zagat Chicago favorites. No matter how you slice it, the fact remains: Chicagoans are absolutely crazy for Mexican food. Authentic Mexican food is the event's main focus. The cities' and the regions' award winning Mexican restaurants and chefs will set up outdoor kitchens in the events Restaurant Row and serve up small plates of their signature dishes for bargain prices. The culinary emphasis in Restaurant Row is authenticity. The event features three stages: a Main Stage with big entertainment, a Culinary Stage where participating chefs will demonstrate recipes and compete for Top Chef award, and a Showcase Stage where dance troupes, orchestras and brass bands from area high schools or colleges perform.
2017 ILLINOIS - MAY 2017
Food Shows and Local Food, Beer and Wine Events
events still waiting for new datesMay 27-28, 2017 Greek & Mediterranean Wine Festival
Chicago, Illinois
Think of it as a pairing of grapes and gyros. Or grapes and moussaka. When Greektown Mediterranean Wine Fest makes its alluring debut this spring in Chicago's West Loop, scores of European wines will be celebrated along with tasty dishes from the neighborhood's iconic Greek restaurants. This classy Hellenic-themed happening is designed for wine and food connoisseurs be they newbies or those with more discriminating tastes. A cornerstone of the fest will be daily afternoon wine tastings (from 2:00-6:00 p.m.) where ticket holders can sample up to 15 varietals with the purchase of a $40 tasting pass.
2015 ILLINOIS - MAY 2015
Food & Wine Festivals, Shows, Events
events still waiting for new datesMay 2, 2015 Green City Market Opening Day - Chicago, Illinois
Chicago's nationally renowned Green City Market will host top chefs from around the country when it opens its 17th outdoor market season Saturday, May 2. Green City Market, located in Lincoln Park between Clark and Stockton Drive (approximately 1817 N. Clark) provides organic and sustainably raised products for well over 200,000 shoppers annually including Chicago's top chefs, residents and visitors. In honor of the 2015 James Beard Foundation Awards, visiting chefs will gather and be joined by Chicago's chef community at Green City Market beginning at 9:30 a.m. The market opens at 7 a.m. and runs until 1 p.m. every Wednesday and Saturday.
May 16, 2015 Gardenology - Geneva, Illinois
Ideas, Advice & Dreams for your garden. Specialists and master gardeners will be in downtown Geneva to answer questions. Topics include herbs, flowers, vegetables, heirloom plants and perennials. Learn about attracting birds & butterflies, wildlife control, composting, organic fertilizers and more. Kids’ activities offered.
May 17-18, 2015 International Wine, Spirits & Beer Event
Chicago, Illinois
At the NRA Show. The International Wine, Spirits & Beer Event brings restaurant and hospitality industry buyers together with hundreds of established and emerging labels to connect and uncover ways that beverage alcohol can enhance menus and drive profitability. Attendance: 58,000. | 
