We’re right on the brink of festival season, and no city does festival season better than Chicago. Seriously, having an event lined up every week from May through September is pretty impressive, if you ask us.
It can be hard to keep track of it all, so we decided to make it a little less overwhelming by creating a full-blown guide that includes every single fest happening in Chicago.
So bookmark it in your browser, print it out, tattoo it on your chest, whatever you need to do to keep it handy. When someone inevitably asks you, “What’s going on this week?” you’ll have an answer.
The Big Six
Photo Credit: Lollapalooza
Spring Awakening: June 9 – 11
Mamby on the Beach: June 24 – 25
Pitchfork Music Festival: July 14 – 16
Lollapalooza: August 3 – 6
North Coast Music Festival: September 1 – 3
Riot Fest: September 15 – 17
Slightly Less Big But Still Pretty Awesome
Photo Credit: Windy City Smokeout
Chicago Pride Fest: June 17 – 18
Country LakeShake: June 23 – 25
Windy City Smokeout: July 14 – 16
Chicago Open Air: July 14 – 16
Tour de Fat: July 29
AAHH! Fest: September 23 – 24
Free City Festivals
Photo Credit: Chicago Blues Festival
Chicago Gospel Music Festival: June 2 – 3
Chicago Blues Festival: June 9 – 11
Taste of Chicago: July 5 – 9
Chicago Jazz Festival: August 31 – September 3
Neighborhood & Street Festivals
Photo Credit: Do Division Street Fest
Mayfest: May 19 – 21
Lincoln Park Wine Festival: May 20 – 21
Mole de Mayo: May 26 – 28
Greektown Mediterranean Wine Festival: May 27 – 28
Belmont-Sheffield Music Festival: May 27 – 28
Do Division Street Fest: June 2 – 4
Lincoln Park Greek Fest: June 2 – 4
Andersonville Midsommarfest: June 9 – 11
Fiesta Back of the Yards: June 9 – 11
Ribfest Chicago: June 9 – 11
Old Town Art Fair: June 10 – 11
Pilsen Food Truck Social: June 10 – 11
Wells Street Art Festival: June 10 – 11
Gold Coast Art Fair: June 17 – 18
Chicago Taco & Tequila Fest: June 24 – 25
Ravenswood on Tap: June 24 – 25
Windy City Ribfest in Uptown: June 30 – July 2
The Chosen Few Picnic & House Music Festival: July 1 – 2
African/Caribbean International Festival of Life: July 1 – 4
West Fest: July 7 – 9
Irish American Heritage Festival: July 7 – 9
Chicago Margarita Festival: July 8 – 9
Roscoe Village Burger Fest: July 8 – 9
Colombian Fest: July 15 – 16
Southport Art & Music Fest: July 15 – 16
59th Dearborn Garden Walk: July 16
Chinatown Summer Fair: July 16
Soulful Chicago Book Fair: July 16
Taste of River North: July 21 – 23
Sheffield Music Festival & Garden Walk: July 21 – 23
Chicago Craft Beer Festival: July 22 – 23
Fiesta del Sol: July 27 – 30
Bantu Fest: July 29
Taste of Lincoln Avenue: July 29 – 30
Wicker Park Fest: July 29 – 30
Wrigleyville Summerfest: August TBD
Jeff Fest: August 4 – 6
Morgan Park House & Soul Music Festival: August 5
Edge Fest: August 5 – 6
62nd Annual Ginza Holiday Festival: August 11 – 13
Chicago Hot Dog Fest: August 11 – 13
Retro on Roscoe: August 11 – 13
Northalsted Market Days: August 12 – 13
Clark After Dark: August 17
Festa Italiana: August 18 – 20
Edison Park Fest: August 18 – 20
Glenwood Avenue Arts Fest: August 18 – 20
Taste of Greektown: August 25 – 27
Logan Square Food Truck Social: August 25 – 27
City Made Fest: September TBD
Great American Lobster Fest: September 1 – 3
African Festival of the Arts: September 1 – 4
Taste of Polonia: September 1 – 4
Windy City Wine Festival: September 8 – 9
Throwback Music Festival: September 8 – 10
Little Village Fest: September 8 – 10
Lakeview East Festival of the Arts: September 9 – 10
Sam Adams’ Lakeview Taco Fest: September 16 – 17
West Loop Art Fest: September 17 – 19
