Annual Events & Festivals
JUNE
Rose Fest
Kick-off the summer festival season at the Roselle Lions Club’s Annual Rose Fest. Four days of family-friendly fun await you in downtown Roselle, including live bands, carnival rides, and food vendors. Be sure to claim your spot for the best views of the annual Rose Parade on Sunday, and cheer on the professional floats, marching bands, dancers, and cars.
Elk Grove Rotary Fest
Elk Grove Rotary Fest is a five-day family celebration at Rotary Green. Standard fair activities such as carnival rides, fireworks, and live bands will be plentiful. However, the highlight of this fest is its luxury car show! All entry fees are donated directly to charity.
JULY
Frontier Days
Head over to Arlington Heights’ premier summer event, Frontier Days, for five days of your favorite Independence Day activities! At Recreation Park, enjoy the wine and beer garden, petting zoo, a carnival, and live music! You can count on fantastic musical acts, previous headliners include Bret Michaels of Poison and Beatles tribute band American English.
Prairie Fest
Just two miles east of Itasca is Wood Dale, host of the family-friendly Prairie Fest. Four days of merrymaking await you at the town’s most exciting social happening. Culinary treats, a packed lineup of live music, crafts, and carnival rides will make the 20th annual Prairie Fest the best yet.
Streamwood Summer Celebration
Find ultimate family fun at Streamwood Summer Celebration! Festivities include ice-cream eating contests, carnival rides, a parade filled with floats, and live music—this two-day celebration touches on all festivities. The main stage hosts an impressive lineup of artists covering classic rock and roll hits. Stick around for arts and crafts, dancing, and carnival games that will delight the whole family.
Taste of Roselle
During Taste of Roselle, the town’s Civic Plaza at Prospect and Main streets are transformed into Showcase Plaza. Bop along to great local live entertainment, sip and nosh from the many food stalls, and stroll through the best craft fair in DuPage County—featuring more than 50 vendors!
AUGUST
Rolling Meadows Corn Festival
For more than 60 years, the Community Church of Rolling Meadows has hosted the Rolling Meadows Corn Festival. Join them this year for an art and craft fair, raffle, fun children’s activities, and fantastic food! All-you-can-eat buttered sweet corn? Yes, please! Watermelon, hot dogs, and brats? Sold.
SEPTEMBER
Itasca’s Oktoberfest
Before you transition from flip-flops to boots in September, engage yourself in a classic German Oktoberfest. Tuck into a meal of spaetzle, pretzels, and brats under a massive 230-foot tent, all while listening to live German music. Those who want to run off their beer can pre-register for the CARA-certified and cleverly named OctoberFast 5k.
Schaumburg Septemberfest
If you’re seeking the classic American parade and fireworks to celebrate Labor Day, look no further than the 50th annual Schaumburg Septemberfest. Enjoy free admission all weekend long at the Robert O. Atcher Municipal Center grounds, approximately 250,000 guests attend annually! There are fireworks on Sunday, a parade on Monday, and craft beer and wine, pony rides, carnival attractions, an arts & crafts show, and musical entertainment across four stages.
Elk Grove Village Oktoberfest
Enjoy a September weekend packed with traditional German food, games, and music at the fifth annual Elk Grove Village Oktoberfest. With free admission and parking and plenty of children’s activities on deck (face painting, a balloon artist, inflatables, and relay race), this fest is sure to please the whole family. Lederhosen optional.
OCTOBER
Harmony Fest
End your summer in Downtown Arlington Heights at the new Harmony Fest on Campbell & Vail, previously known as Taste of Arlington Heights. Join the 20,000 guests who attend the gigantic block party and soak up the sounds of live music in Harmony Park. Be sure to chow down on treats from local food vendors, and engage the kids in outdoor fun.
Make it the summer of fun in Chicago Northwest! Continue planning with our full calendar of events.
