Hop, hop, hooray! Sip your way through the suburbs at these fall beer fests

Beer events are brewing up around the suburbs as we approach Oktoberfest. From traditional festivals to a beer 5K, there’s something happening most weekends for beer lovers over the next couple of months.

Thursday, Sept. 10

Plank Road Tap Room in Elgin will host the Hops for Homes Oktoberfest fundraiser for PADS of Elgin from 6 to 9 p.m. Sept. 10. Your $50 ticket gets you two half-liter pours of Hofbräuhaus beer, a giant Bavarian pretzel, charcuterie and a chance for prizes while helping provide safe shelter and housing-focused support to neighbors experiencing homelessness.

Thursday-Sunday, Sept. 10-13

Sturdy Shelter Brewing in Batavia will hold its 2026 Oktoberfest celebration at the brewery at 10 Shumway Ave. Sept. 10-13. There will be food trucks throughout the weekend, live Oktoberfest music from The Happy Wanderers from 3 to 6 p.m. Saturday and qualifying for the Illinois state steinholding competition at 1:30 p.m. Sunday.

Friday-Sunday, Sept. 11-13

The 20th annual Oktoberfest-themed Platzkonzert Germanfest returns to Hoffman Estates with three days of authentic German music, food and beer. The free celebration is held at he Hoffman Estates Village Green, 5510 Prairie Stone Parkway. Hours are 5 to 11 p.m. Friday, 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Saturday and noon to 5 p.m. Sunday. The Kinderplatz will offer free children’s activities, including inflatables, arts and crafts and more from noon to 5 p.m. on both Saturday and Sunday. Contests will take place throughout the weekend including the beer stein carry, stein hoisting and costume contests on Saturday, and Dachshund races on Sunday.

Saturday, Sept. 12

• Dozens of breweries as well as whiskey and wine vendors will participate in the 15th annual Illinois Brews @ Bowes Creek fundraiser at Bowes Creek Country Club, 1250 Bowes Creek Blvd. in Elgin. New this year is the Big Ten Beer Challenge Tent, where tasters can sample beers inspired by Big Ten schools, like Tigerhawk for the Iowa Hawkeyes and Haze and Blue for the Michigan Wolverines. General admission tickets are $55 in advance and include entry to the main event from 4 to 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.

• The Annual Bourbon & Beer Festival is back from 6 to 10 p.m. Sept. 12 at The Vine, 101 Center St., Grayslake. Dozens of breweries and distilleries will be offering beers and whiskeys to sample. The event also features live music, food vendors and cigars. The $55 general admission tickets include entry at 7 p.m. and samplings of the libations. The $85 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.

Saturday, Sept. 19

• The 10th annual Elmhurst Craft Beer Fest will highlight more than 50 breweries and meaderies from 2 to 6 p.m. on the grounds of the Elmhurst History Museum at 120 E. Park Ave. The $45 general admission tickets include a three-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.

• Sample craft beer while enjoying the great outdoors at The Great Outdoors Beer Trail from 1 to 5 p.m. along the Fel-Pro RRR Conservation Area in Cary. Walk the one-mile, partially wooded, paved trail while visiting various regional brewers along the way. You can also play a pickup game of bags, listen to music and order from local food trucks. $70 general admission tickets are available on EventBrite for the 21-and-older event and include 3-ounce tastes from multiple brewers and a souvenir tasting glass.

Friday and Saturday, Sept. 25-26

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 to 10 p.m. both days, with “Family Garten” hours from noon to 5 p.m. Saturday. General admission tickets are $25 in advance and include a commemorative stein and one beer ticket. Prices go up $5 on the day of the event. mainstreetlibertyville.org/events/libertyville-1/oktoberfest.

Saturday, Sept. 26

A dozen 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 to 5 p.m., features music and food trucks. General admission tickets are $50 and include 20 three-ounce samples and a commemorative beer glass. $65 VIP tickets include early entry at 1 p.m. bataviaparks.org/pints-by-the-pond.

Friday through Sunday, Oct. 2-4

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. 3

• Head to St. Charles for a fun twist on a fun run with Hops for Hope, a beer 5K and BrewFest sponsored by 93 Octane Brewery. With five beer stops along the way, the 5K starts at noon 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 celebration. 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 food vendors. Tickets for the 5K and BrewFest are currently $80, while tickets to the BrewFest only are $65. Prices go up 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 3 p.m. Oct. 3 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. Arb members save $10. mortonarb.org/explore/activities/events/cider-ale-festival.

• Help support local veterans during the ninth annual The Legions of Craft Beer Festival from noon to 4 p.m. Oct. 3 at the Gurnee American Legion Post 771 at 749 Milwaukee Ave. More than 35 craft beers and hard ciders from a variety of brewers will be available to sample while guests enjoy live music and food trucks. General admission tickets are $45 in advance and $55 the day of the event.

Friday, Nov. 13

• Be among the first to see “Illumination: Tree Lights” at The Morton Arboretum while sampling seasonal beers, ciders and meads from Chicago-area breweries during IllumiBrew, which runs from 5:30 to 10 p.m. Nov. 13. Each ticket includes 18, 3-ounce beer samples and a complimentary tasting glass. Tickets go on sale Oct. 1 for members ($85) and Oct. 15 for the general public ($95).