Fairs & festivals: Lisle Ale Fest, Oktoberfests, Harvest Fest and more

Posted September 27, 2017 6:00 am

More than 80 American beers will be on tap at this year's Lisle Ale Fest Saturday.

This weekend

Fifth Annual Hofbräuhaus Chicago Oktoberfest: 11 a.m. to 2 a.m. Friday and Saturday; 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Sunday through Wednesday; and 11 a.m. to midnight Thursday; through Sunday, Oct. 29, at Hofbräuhaus Chicago, 5500 Park Place, Rosemont. Nightly Bavarian entertainment, Oktoberfest beer inspired by the original Hofbräuhaus in Munich, daily food specials, celebrity keg-tapping ceremonies, games, music and more. Free. (847) 671-2739 or hofbrauhauschicago.com.

17th Annual Oktoberfest Chicago: 5 to 10 p.m. Friday, Sept. 29; 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 30; and 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 1, at St. Alphonsus, 1429 W. Wellington Ave., Chicago. Beer, food (including handmade bratwurst), German bands, games and more. Admission is $5 before 5 p.m.; $10 after 5 p.m. Free for active military and veterans (with military ID). oktoberfestchicago.org.

Revolution Brewing Oktoberfest: 5 to 10 p.m. Friday, Sept. 29, and noon to 10 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 30, at Revolution's Brew Pub, 2323 N. Milwaukee Ave., Chicago. Music, German malts and hops and food. A suggested $5 donation at the entrance benefits the neighborhood school programs of Friends of Goethe School. (773) 227-2739 or revbrew.com.

Wheeling Park District's Oktoberfest: 7 to 10 p.m. Friday, Sept. 29, and 3 to 8 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 30, at Heritage Park, 333 W. Dundee Road, Wheeling. Live entertainment, beer, bratwurst and more. $5; free for kids 12 and younger and seniors. wheelingparkdistrict.com.

30th Annual Apple Fest: 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, Sept. 30-Oct. 1, on Lincoln Avenue between Lawrence and Eastwood, Chicago. Vendors selling apples and apple treats as well as chef demos, music and kids' activities. Suggested $5 donation. Money supports beautification projects and nonprofits. lincolnsquare.org/apple-fest.

Harvest Fest: 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 30, at Fishel Park, Grove Street, Downers Grove. DG 5 & 8 Miler at 8:30 a.m. starting at Lincoln Center and ending at Fishel Park. Food trucks, beer, chili cook-off, bags tournament, craft fair, pumpkin patch, children's area and more. Music from DIVA from 10:30 a.m. to noon, Hillbilly Rockstarz from 1 to 3 p.m. and Modern Day Romeos from 5 to 7 p.m. Free. Race registration required. dgparks.org.

Crystal Lake showcases its 25th Annual Johnny Appleseed Fest Saturday.

25th Annual Johnny Appleseed Festival: 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 30, on Main Street in downtown Crystal Lake. Scarecrow-decorating contest, music, petting zoo, “Great Ball Race,” pumpkin bowling, rides and more. $3-$5; free for kids younger than 3; $15 per family. downtowncl.org.

SCARCE Green Fair: 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 30, at the DuPage County Fairgrounds, 2015 Manchester Road, Wheaton. Eco-vendors, green speakers, alternative fuel vehicles, farmers market, recycling event, children's activities and more. $5; free for kids 15 and younger. scarce.org.

Triton College Fall Family Fun Fest: 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 30, in Triton College's botanical gardens, on the east side of campus, 2000 Fifth Ave., River Grove. Games, family activities, exhibits, straw maze, pumpkin patch, food and more. Free. triton.edu.

Glendale Heights Harvest Fest: Noon to 4 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 30, at Lake Becerra at Heritage Park, 1736 Paul Ave., Glendale Heights. Music, crafts, chili cook-off, bags tournament, hay rides, corn maze, pumpkin patch, face painting and more. Free. glendaleheights.org.

Kane County Flea Market: Noon to 5 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 30, and 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 1, at the Kane County Fairgrounds, 525 S. Randall Road, St. Charles. Up to 1,000 dealers display and sell antiques and collectibles indoors and outside. A country breakfast will be served Sunday. Admission is $5 for adults; free for kids 12 and younger. kanecountyfair.com/calendar.cfm.

Lynfred Winery Oktoberfest, Grape Stomp and Pig Roast: 3 to 9 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 30, and noon to 7 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 1, at Lynfred Winery, 15 S. Roselle Road, Roselle. Two days of German sing-a-longs, food, grape spitting, grape stomping and cork tossing. $10 entrance fee; free for kids 13 and younger. Fees for food/beverage tickets. lynfredwinery.com.

Bluesmobile Cruise Nights: 3 to 9 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 30, in the Metra parking lot, near the intersection of Route 83 and Northwest Highway, Mount Prospect. Enjoy classic cars and entertainment. Free. facebook.com/bmbcruisenights.

Lisle Ale Fest: 4 to 8 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 30, at Prairiewalk Pond, west of Main street at Garfield and Burlington avenues, Lisle. Early entry at 3 p.m. More than 80 American beers, music and food. Proceeds benefit The Lisle Area Chamber of Commerce and local service organizations. General admission is $45; designated driver is $15. Early admission (private sampling from 3 to 4 p.m.) is $55; early admission designated driver is $20. lislealefest.com.

Our Savior Lutheran Church's Oktoberfest: 4 to 10 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 30, at Our Savior Lutheran Church, 1244 W. Army Trail Road, Carol Stream. Kids' activities, polka contest, lederhosen/dirndl contest, beer, German food and more. (630) 830-4833 or oursavior.com.

Marmion Academy Oktoberfest: 7 to 11 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 30, at Marmion Academy, 1000 Butterfield Road, Aurora. German food, live music, Oktoberfest-style beer and wine, a silent auction and more. Performers include Howl at the Moon Dueling Pianos. Activities take place under a tent in the Battaglia Center parking lot. $40. For ages 21 and older. Register at marmion.org.

Scarecrow Trail: 7 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 1, through Tuesday, Oct. 31, at the Morton Arboretum, 4100 Route 53, Lisle. Nature-themed scarecrows created by local Scout troops. $9-$14. mortonarb.org.

Family Health and Safety Fair: 5 to 8 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 4, at the Sports Hub, 250 Civic Center Plaza, Glendale Heights. Free. glendaleheights.org.

Walk for Wishes: 8 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 1, at Busse Woods Forest Preserve Grove 5, Elk Grove Village. Superhero costumed family walk to benefit Make-A-Wish Illinois. $15-$25; free for kids 5 and younger. Entertainment for all ages. illinois.wish.org.

Fall Color 5K Run and Walk: 8 a.m. Sunday, Oct. 1, at Morton Arboretum, 4100 Route 53, Lisle. Kids Dash at 9 a.m. USATF course follows the East Side Main Route. Post-race party with live music and beer for ages 21 and older. $40-$55. mortonarb.org.

Cosley Zoo's Pumpkin Fest: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily from Sunday, Oct. 1, through Tuesday, Oct. 31, at Cosley Zoo, 1356 N. Gary Ave., Wheaton. Straw pyramid, corn stalk tunnel, children's rides, thousands of pumpkins throughout the zoo and more. Apples, gourds, pumpkins, cider, cornstalks and straw bales will be available to purchase. $6-$7; free for kids 17 and younger. (630) 665-5534 or cosleyzoo.org.

Grant Township and Fox Lake Fall Festival: 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 1, at 26725 W. Molidor Road, Ingleside. Vendors and crafters, food, petting zoo, pony rides, children's activities, inflatables, pie-eating contests, hay rides, Best Brains Museum, emergency vehicle demonstrations and more. Free. granttownshipcenter.org or foxlake.org.

Crystal Lake Family Kite Festival: 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 1, at Lippold Park, 1251 Route 176, Crystal Lake. Featuring kites of all sizes, some as large as 90 feet. Lessons will be offered. Free. chicagokite.com.

Civil War re-enactors will be part of the 40th Annual Cider Fest Sunday at the McHenry County Historical Society in Union. Courtesy of McHenry County Historical Society

Cider Fest: 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 1, at the McHenry County Historical Society Museum, 6422 Main St., Union. 40th annual event features Civil War re-enactors with the 36th Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry, music, old-fashioned cider making, barn-raising demonstration, and food and other items for sale. Tour the museum, the Gannon 1843 log cabin and the 1895 West Harmony one-room school. Free. (815) 923-2267 or mchenrycountyhistory.org.

Trick or Trees: 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 1, and Saturday and Sunday, Oct. 7-8, 14-15, 21-22, 28-29, at the Morton Arboretum, 4100 Route 53, Lisle. Make crafts and plant a tree seed to take home. Small pumpkins to paint will be available for purchase. $9-$14. mortonarb.org.

Guests can get an up-close look at a stagecoach and learn about other 19th-century traditions during Harvest Days Sunday at the Garfield Farm Museum. Courtesy of the Garfield Farm Museum

Harvest Days: 11:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 1, at the Garfield Farm Museum, 3N016 Garfield Road, Campton Hills. Continuous demonstrations of farm and household skills, 19th-century music, food and more. $3-$6. (630) 584-8485 or garfieldfarm.org.

Heirloom Apple Fest: 1 to 4 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 1, at the Durant House Museum, LeRoy Oakes Forest Preserve, 37W370 Dean St., St. Charles. Learn about different types of apples, taste special old-fashioned apples and take apple recipes home. Games on the front lawn, weather permitting. $3, $1 for kids. ppfv.org.

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