11 wine festivals to check out this summer

Ah, wine. Long summer nights are a perfect time to linger over a glass of vino. But if you're tired of the wine you have at home, head out to a local wine festival (or fest with a wine tasting) to try a variety of varietals. You might be surprised at what you'll find. Here are 11 festivals to get you started.

Uncork Barrington

6 to 9:30 p.m. Friday, July 12, at the Barrington Metra Station-Tent Pavilion, 201 S. Spring St., Barrington, uncorkbarrington.com/

Get your nose ready as 50 wines from local wine shops, restaurants and vineyards will be available for sniffing and sipping during this charitable wine-tasting event, which also features food samples and live entertainment. General admission tickets, which cost $40 until July 11 and $50 at the door, include 20 one-ounce servings, a souvenir wine tasting glass and hors d'oeuvres. VIP tickets, which run $90, include additional premium wines, a special VIP entrance, access to the VIP deluxe tent, exclusive food items and more. Designated driver tickets for $25 include bottled water, a souvenir wine tasting glass and food samples. This is a 21-and-older event.

Chicago Whiskey & Wine Festival

Session 1: Noon to 3 p.m., session 2: 3:30 to 6:30 p.m. Saturday, July 20, at Belmont Harbor, 2 W. Belmont Harbor Drive, Chicago, playerssports.net/page/whiskey

What goes better than whiskey, wine and - we hope - some sunshine? Try samples of wines, whiskeys and spirits, while enjoying music from a DJ and more along the lakefront. Tickets, which cost $40, include admission, 15 tasting tickets and a souvenir tasting glass. This is a 21-and-older event. Buy tickets at eventbrite.com/.

Cocktails in the Park

7 to 10 p.m. Saturday, July 20, at Appleton Park, near the Batavia Riverwalk, 100 N. Island Ave., Batavia, downtownbatavia.com/currentevents/cocktails-in-the-park/

Explore downtown Batavia while enjoying drinks, live music, small plates and more during the eighth annual fundraiser for Batavia MainStreet. The $30 entrance fee includes a collectible whiskey glass and small plates. The bar is cash/credit. For $20, enter the "Win the Bar" raffle to win a tent full of cocktail mixers, spirits, barware and more. Valid ID required to purchase alcohol. Buy tickets at eventbrite.com/.

Cosley Zoo Uncorked

5:30 to 8 p.m. Thursday, July 25, at Cosley Zoo, 1356 N. Gary Ave., Wheaton, wheatonparkdistrict.com/events/cosley-uncorked/

Feeling a bit wild? Mingle with Cosley Zoo's animals at this unique wine tasting featuring more than 50 wines, hors d'oeuvres, live music, a raffle, giveaways and more. The first 450 guests will receive a commemorative wineglass. Must be 21 and older to attend. It's $45 per person. Buy tickets at eventbrite.com/. All proceeds will benefit Cosley Zoo.

Deer Park Jazz & Wine Festival

Noon to 9:30 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 3, at Deer Park Town Center, 20530 N. Rand Road, Deer Park, shopdeerparktowncenter.com/

Sip on a fine wine or a craft beer while listening to some jazz in the gazebo area at Deer Park. Food and drink sales (cash only) start at noon, with the music starting at 1 p.m. with the Dan Ferris Quartet. Next up at 2:45 p.m. is the Francesca Castro Band and at 4:30 is George Fludas and Pocket Change. The Frank Russell Band plays at 6:15 p.m. and James Sanders & Conjunto at 8. Bring chairs for seating. Open to all ages; there's free face painting and a balloon artist for the kids. Free admission.

Wheaton Wine Walk

5 to 8:30 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 8, at Martin Memorial Plaza, Front and Main streets, Wheaton, downtownwheaton.com/all-events/wheaton-wine-walk

Put on your walking shoes and head to downtown Wheaton for the annual wine walk, which features stops at local restaurants and shops serving up wine samples from around the world. Check-in begins at 4:30 p.m. at Martin Memorial Plaza where you can pick up your souvenir wineglass, 12 one-ounce tasting tickets and a walking map. Tickets cost $35 in advance (purchase by July 31 to receive three additional tastes) and $40 the day of.

Farm to Fork Festival

5 to 8 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 14, at Volkening Heritage Farm, 201 S. Plum Grove Road, Schaumburg, parkfun.com/programs/special-events/2019/04/12/farm-to-fork-festival

Make sure to come hungry and thirsty to this fest, which features locally made wines and beers to accompany the locally sourced fare crafted by some of the area's top chefs. Tickets for this 21-and-older event cost $32. The registration deadline is Aug. 9.

Wine and Art Walk

10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, Aug. 17-18, at Morton Arboretum, 4100 Route 53, Lisle, mortonarb.org/events/wine-and-art-walk

Stroll around Meadow Lake while sipping wine and shopping for nature-themed art during this juried art show. Browse photography, wood-turning, jewelry, digital and traditional painting, ceramics, fused glass and more from Midwest artists. Snacks, wine and other beverages will be available for purchase. Free with general admission of $15 for adults, $13 for seniors 65 and older, $10 for kids 2-17, and free for kids 1 and younger.

The Northshore Wine, Beer and Cigar Festival

4 to 8:30 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 24, on Church Street, Libertyville, northshorewineandbeerfest.com/

Talk about red, white and sparkling: With about 100 different wines on the menu, there will be no shortage of varieties to try and buy at this fest. Plus, you can taste locally brewed craft beer from Libertyville's Mickey Finn's and Perfect Brewing Supply and Lake Zurich's Roaring Table. Those are a just a few of the 80 beers on tap. There will be cigar sampling and food vendors, too. General admission, which costs $40 in advance and $50 the day of the event, includes admission at 4 p.m., 10 tasting tickets and a tasting glass. The VIP package, which costs $160, includes early admission, a special VIP tasting in the Civic Center at 3:30 p.m., 10 tasting tickets, a souvenir glass, a raffle ticket and a $100 beverage credit toward wine purchased during the event. Designated drivers admitted free. The fest is sponsored by the Libertyville Sunrise Rotary.

Lake in the Hills Summer Sunset Festival

3 to 10:30 p.m. Friday, Aug. 30; 9:30 a.m. to 10:30 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 31; and 11 a.m. to 10:30 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 1, at Sunset Park, 5200 Miller Park, Lake in the Hills, summersunsetfest.com/wine-tasting/

In addition to the requisite carnival rides, music, car show and more, make a point to stop at the wine-tasting tent at this annual fest. Sample wines from Village Vintner and Cooper's Hawk from 6 to 10:30 p.m. Friday and 4 to 10:30 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. Friday admission is $10 and includes five wine tastings, a souvenir wineglass and access to the wine tent. Saturday and Sunday admission is $15, which includes seven wine tastings, a souvenir wineglass and wine tent access. Attendees must be 21 and show ID.

Festival of the Vine

10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Friday and Saturday, Sept. 6-7, and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 8, in downtown Geneva, genevachamber.com/festival_of_vine.php

Expect to try a variety of wines from around the world plus specialties to nibble on at the Flavor Fare. Plus, there will be live music and a fine arts and crafts fair to browse, too.