Festivals and Fairs
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Fall Flavor Fest at Smokin’ Deal BBQ features tastes, demos, industry prosSep 10, 2025 11:34 am - A Barbecue Hall of Famer who is also a best-selling author. A grilling enthusiast with more than 3.5 million social media followers and his own line of rubs and seasonings. A certified pizzaiolo, who is the corporate chef for Lakeview Appliance Distributing. Visitors will find all three at the Fall Flavor Fest from 10:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 4, at Smokin’ Deal BBQ in Vernon Hills.
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‘Bands, brews and family fun’: Inaugural Meadows Fest this weekendSep 10, 2025 11:27 am - Rolling Meadows will host a three-day festival this weekend to celebrate the city’s 70th anniversary. Meadows Fest will feature music, food, drinks, games and shopping at Kimball Hill Park.
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Best Bets: Monster Jam, Halloween scares, craft beers and Joffrey premieres ‘Carmen’Sep 10, 2025 9:08 am - Monster Jam rolls into Rosemont’s Allstate Arena, the new immersive haunted house Duchess Manor opens at The Arboretum, Elmhurst hosts the 10th Elmhurst Craft Beer Fest and The Joffrey Ballet premieres “Carmen.”
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Heritage Fest features music, crafts fair, car show and moreSep 09, 2025 10:36 pm - Heritage Fest, West Dundee’s three-day community festival, features live music, arts and crafts fair, car show, food, 5K run, and more on Sept. 12-14.
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Things to do Sept. 12-18: Fright Fest, Des Plaines Fall Fest, Heritage Fest and moreSep 09, 2025 4:36 pm - Mark your calendar for Des Plaines Fall Fest, Fright Fest at Six Flags Great America, St. Charles Jazz Weekend, West Dundee Heritage Fest, Glow in the Park Lantern Walk, Revolutionary War Reenactment at Cantigny and more happening this week.
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KidsMatter to host Volunteer Fair at Naperville’s Fort Hill Activity CenterSep 09, 2025 2:07 pm - Naperville-based KidsMatter will help young people find ways to give back during a free event next week.
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Brat Fest returns to Wheeling on Sept. 20Sep 09, 2025 9:40 am - The Wheeling Helping Hands community group will hold its annual Brat Fest fundraiser Sept. 20.
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Naper Pride Fest returns for fourth year with live music and foodSep 08, 2025 6:03 pm - Naper Pride Fest, a family-friendly event celebrating the LGBTQIA+ community, returns to Naper Settlement on Sept. 13. Throughout the day, guests will enjoy music and live performances by local and regional acts.
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Celebrate Mexican heritage with giant piñata at West Chicago festivalSep 08, 2025 4:43 pm - West Chicago's Independence Day festival will feature live music, dance performances, authentic Mexican cuisine, family activities, and a 13-foot piñata as the highlight.
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Mount Prospect’s inaugural Five-O Family Fest set for Sept. 27Sep 08, 2025 2:46 pm - The Mount Prospect Police Department will host its annual Five-O Family Fest from 1 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 27, at the police headquarters, 911 E. Kensington Road.