Festivals and Fairs
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60 artists to paint outdoors at St. Charles’ Plein Air Event Aug. 18-24
Aug 18, 2025 10:49 am - Plein air painters from across the country are coming to St. Charles Aug. 18-24 to capture scenic landscapes. The weeklong event features 60 artists painting outdoors and engaging the community through contests, talks, and an art sale.
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Celebrate Summer’s Last Hurrah! with Elgin Rotary ClubAug 18, 2025 1:59 am - The Rotary Club of Elgin hosts a free, family-friendly end-of-summer celebration on Sept. 6 featuring live music, kids activities, craft fair, pet parade, food trucks, and raffle.
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Heirloom varieties take center stage at Garfield Farm Museum’s annual showAug 17, 2025 10:28 pm - Garfield Farm Museum's Heirloom Garden Show on Sunday, Aug. 24, will feature tours, prairie plot, and growers of antique produce varieties working to preserve genetic diversity.
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Fan Expo Chicago returns to Rosemont with cosplay, characters, comicsAug 16, 2025 5:44 pm - Lovers of cosplay, sci-fi, horror, anime, comics, gaming and pop culture descended upon the Donald E. Stephens Convention Center in Rosemont this weekend for Fan Expo Chicago 2025.
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Schaumburg’s Septemberfest grounds adapting to village hall constructionAug 14, 2025 4:33 pm - Schaumburg officials have spared no effort in maintaining all the traditions of Septemberfest this Labor Day weekend, despite the village hall construction under way in its midst.
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Explore arts, crafts at Arlington Heights Art Guild’s A Walk in the ParkAug 13, 2025 11:44 am - Arts and crafts from more than 80 artists will be showcased and sold at the Arlington Heights Art Guild’s 54th annual A Walk in the Park fair on Aug. 24.
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Long Grove Irish Days returns with music, pop-up pub, dog contestAug 13, 2025 11:39 am - Irish Days returns to Long Grove for a spirited weekend of music, dancing, food, and family fun. New this year are extended fest hours, evening entertainment, and a pop-up pub.
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Conjuring nightmares: Six Flags Great America’s Fright Fest unveils new thrills, haunted mazesAug 12, 2025 4:14 pm - Roller coaster buffs will have to hurry to ride Raging Bull before it temporarily closes for a full repaint, but there are plenty of other big events, including new Fright Fest haunts, planned for visitors to Six Flags Great America in Gurnee.
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Things to do Aug. 15-21: Little Bear Ribfest, Naper Nights, Elburn Days and moreAug 12, 2025 2:28 pm - Mark your calendar for Little Bear Ribfest, Naper Nights, Moose Cruise Nights, Grayslake SummerFest, Elburn Days, Bloody Mary Fest and more happening this week.
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Best Bets: Celebrities converge on Rosemont for Fan Expo ChicagoAug 12, 2025 1:16 pm - “Star Wars,” “Guardians of the Galaxy” and other Hollywood stars converge on Rosemont’s Donald E. Stephens Convention Center for Fan Expo Chicago while the Air and Water Show zooms over Chicago’s lakefront this weekend.