Raise a glass: Sip your way across the suburbs with these fall beer festivals

There’s a variety of beer events brewing around the suburbs as we get closer to Oktoberfest. From traditional festivals to tours on foot and bike, there’s something happening most weekends for beer lovers over the next couple of months.

Saturday, Sept. 7

Over two dozen breweries will participate in the annual Illinois Brews @ Bowes Creek fundraiser at Bowes Creek Country Club. General admission tickets are $55 in advance and include admission to the main event from 4-8 p.m. for the craft and home brew beer tasting, snacks and a 5-ounce tasting mug. VIP ticket ($75) holders get in an hour earlier and have access to exclusive beer, whiskey and cocktail tastings. Hosted by the Elgin Parks & Recreation Foundation, ticket sales from the event support the Recreation Youth Scholarship Fund, which provides free access to Elgin Parks programs for at-risk kids. elginparksfoundation.org/ilbrewsatbowes.

Saturday, Sept. 14

• The Annual Bourbon & Beer Festival is back for its 15th year from 6-10 p.m. Sept. 14 at The Vine, 101 Center St., Grayslake. More than 20 breweries will offer over 40 beers, and there will be about 80 types of whiskey to sample. The event also features live music, food vendors and cigars. The $50 general admission tickets include entry at 7 p.m. and samplings of the libations. The $80 VIP tickets offer entry at 6 p.m. and access to the VIP area with a private bathroom, seating, live music, a covered bar and special samplings. bnbfest.com/.

• The ninth annual Elmhurst Craft Beer Fest will highlight over 50 breweries and meaderies from 2-6 p.m. on the grounds of the Elmhurst History Museum at 120 E. Park Ave. The $45 general admission tickets include a 3-ounce commemorative tasting glass and 18 drink tickets. The $55 early-entry tickets get you in at 1 p.m. Prices include live music and light snacks. The event supports the Elmhurst History Museum and Churchville One Room Schoolhouse. elmhurstcraftbeerfest.com.

Friday and Saturday, Sept. 20-21

• Oktoberfest in Libertyville brings the sounds and tastes of Germany to the back lot at Mickey Finn’s Brewery, 345 N. Milwaukee Ave. Enjoy live music both days while sampling a selection of beers and taking part in Bavarian sports like Hammerschlagen or Masskrugstemmen. Food will be available for purchase. Hours are 5-10 p.m., with “Family Garten” hours from 2-4 p.m. Saturday. General admission tickets are $25 and include a plastic stein and one beer ticket. VIP tickets are $50 and include two beer tickets, a commemorative ceramic stein and a tour of Mickey Finn’s Brewery with the head brewmaster. Prices go up $5 on the day of the event. Additional beer tickets can be purchased by credit card only at the 21+ event. mainstreetlibertyville.org/events/libertyville-1/oktoberfest/.

• Seventeen local breweries will bring beer, ales and ciders to the Batavia Park District’s Pints by the Pond at the Peg Bond Center, 151 Island Ave. The event, which runs from 2-5 p.m., features music and food trucks. General admission tickets are $45 and include 20 three-ounce samples and a commemorative beer glass. $60 VIP tickets include early entry at 1 p.m. bataviaparks.org/pints-by-the-pond.

Sunday, Sept. 22

The Hoosier Grove Barn & Brew Oktoberfest is back in Streamwood with more than 30 brewers serving an assortment of biers, ciders and meads. The event from 1-5 p.m. includes live Oktoberfest music from Die Kellerknaben and food from Relish Catering and My Cocina Grill. Participating brewers include Art History Brewing, Brother Chimp Brewing, Obscurity Brewing, Tangled Roots Brewing and more. General admission tickets are $45 in advance on Eventbrite or $50 at the gate and include 15, 3-ounce samples and a souvenir glass or mug. streamwoodparks.org/oktoberfest/.

Saturday, Sept. 28

• The Wheaton Park District is hosting the new HOPtober Fest at Memorial Park, 225 Karlskoga Ave. The 21-and-older event, which runs from 1-5 p.m., will feature beers, seltzers, ciders and live music from 7th heaven and Karla and the Phat Kats. General admission tickets are $45 in advance and $50 at the event. wheatonparkdistrict.com/events/9-28-hoptober-fest/.

• The Rotary Club of Cary-Grove Craft Brew Fest, which takes place from 1-5 p.m., is part of the Cary Main Street Fest in the BMO main parking lot. More than 20 unique craft beers, seltzers and ciders will be available for tasting. Tickets are $45. carygrovechamber.com.

Sunday, Sept. 29

Blue Raptor Tap House, 304 Spruce St., South Elgin, is hosting a Brew Ride starting at 10:30 a.m. from their location that will head up to Scorched Earth Brewing Company, 203 Berg St., Algonquin, where riders can take a break with a cold beer. Participants can then bike the 16 miles back to Blue Raptor for another beer with food and music. Tickets are $25 and include two beers and food. blueraptortaphouse.com/.

Friday through Sunday, Oct. 4-6

Buffalo Creek Brewing, 360 Historical Lane, Long Grove, hosts its annual three-day Oktoberfest with authentic oompah music, Bavarian beer games, food and, of course, Oktoberfest beer. The family-friendly festival is free. buffalocreekbrewing.com/.

Saturday, Oct. 5

• Head to St. Charles for a fun twist on a fun run with Hops for Hope, a beer 5K and BrewFest. With six beer stops along the way, the 5K starts at Mount Saint Mary Park, Route 31 at Prairie Street, St. Charles, and heads to Wheeler Park, 499 Wheeler Drive, Geneva, and then ends back at Mount Saint Mary Park for the BrewFest. The beer stops for runners include 3-ounce beer samples from local craft breweries. At the post 5K BrewFest, runners and ticket holders will get 18 samples of beer while listening to live music and enjoying food from Craft Urban. Tickets for the 5K and BrewFest are currently $75, while tickets to the BrewFest only are $60. Prices go up on Sept. 1 and again on the day of the event. Proceeds benefit Project Mobility’s mission to bring adaptive cycling opportunities to children, adults and wounded service members with disabilities. hopsforhope5k.com/.

• Sample ciders and seasonal beers amid fall colors at The Morton Arboretum’s Cider and Ale Festival from noon to 4 p.m. in Lisle. More than 30 local breweries will host tasting booths along Meadow Lake Trail, the Conifer Walk and the Frost Hill walking path. General admission tickets for the beer tasting are $75 and include 20 3-ounce pours and a souvenir glass. VIP tickets for $85 include entry at 11 a.m., a welcome beer and VIP bathrooms. mortonarb.org/explore/activities/events/cider-ale-festival.

Saturday, Oct. 19

• The seventh annual Palatine Jaycees Fall Back Brew Fest will feature more than 100 beers and ciders from over 50 breweries and microbreweries, as well as local home brewers. The event runs from 1-5 p.m. at 155 W. Wilson St., Palatine, for general admission ($40). The doors open at noon for VIP ticket holders ($50). Prices will increase on Sunday, Sept. 1. palatinejaycees.org/fall-back-brew-fest/.

• The Kane County Cougars host their annual Witchcraft Beer Fest from 6-10 p.m. in the covered concourse at Northwestern Medicine Field, 34W002 Cherry Lane, Geneva. Twenty-five local breweries will offer samples, including “Clutch Hitter” by 93 Octane Brewery from St. Charles. Dress for the Halloween theme and participate in the costume contest and spin a prize wheel for Cougars tickets and merch. The $45 tickets include a souvenir glass. kccougars.com/public-events/.