ItascaFest returns for 37th year with four days of music and family fun
The Itasca Lions Club and the village of Itasca are putting on ItascaFest 2026, now in its 37th year. This four-day festival will take place July 9-12 at Washington Park. The festival offers something for everyone — live music, carnival rides, food, and family-friendly fun.
Festival hours are 6 to 11 p.m. Thursday, 6 to 11:30 p.m. Friday, noon to 11:30 p.m. Saturday, and noon to 11 p.m. Sunday at the park, 350 E. Irving Park Road. Admission is free. The festival entrances are on Irving Park Road and Washington Street. There is free street parking and accessible and motorcycle parking in the east parking lot of Benson Primary School, 301 E. Washington St.
A variety of food vendors will be on-site, serving up classic festival favorites all weekend long. And for those feeling lucky, indoor cash bingo will be open throughout the weekend.
Music lineup
Enjoy live music performances every night with a lineup of local and regional bands with the main stage in the Lions Den Pavilion.
On Thursday, Peach Jam, an Allman Brothers tribute band, will kick off the festival from 7 to 10:30 p.m.
On Friday, Eliminator, a ZZ Top tribute band, will perform from 6 to 8 p.m. The Boy Band Review returns to this year’s festival, performing from 9 to 11 p.m.
On Saturday, Itasca’s own FORM, featuring drummer Alec Tau, singer and lead guitarist Jonny DiSilvestro and bass player Kelly D, will once again open the Saturday stage with two-hour set of covers and some originals from 3 to 5 p.m.
The Rod Tuffcurls and the Bench Press will be bringing their three-part harmonies from 6 to 8 p.m. followed by rock band Exit 147 from 9 to 11 p.m.
On Sunday, Throwback Jukebox will open the final day of the fest with classic rock favorites from 3 to 4:30 p.m. The all-girl cover band, The Prissillas, will take the stage from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m.
Tripping Billies, a Dave Matthews Band tribute act, will close out the festival from 8:30 to 10:30 p.m.
Carnival
The carnival will feature unlimited ride specials, perfect for families looking for a day of fun. Unlimited ride passes are $30 the day of the event ($35 Friday), or $25 in advance.
Advance purchase will be available at the Itasca Community Library, 500 W. Irving Park Road; Itasca Park District, 350 E. Irving Park Road; and village hall, 550 W. Irving Park Road. Advance ticket sales end Wednesday, July 8. Cash or check only. Checks must be made out to the Itasca Lions Club.
Unlimited ride passes are valid on Thursday and Friday, and 1 to 5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. One pass is required per person, per day.
For information, visit itasca.com/2289/ItascaFest or itascalionsclub.org.