Festivals and Fairs
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Over 60 vendors of arts and oddities to line Elgin’s Riverside Drive for annual Area 22 fair
Aug 05, 2026 1:43 pm - The third annual Area 22 Arts, Crafts + Oddities Fair returns to downtown Elgin on Saturday, Aug. 8, featuring over 60 artist vendors, unique attractions, and expanded food offerings.
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Patriotic-themed drone show to light up Wilmette’s fifth annual Block PartyAug 05, 2026 1:20 pm - Wilmette Park District will host the village's first synchronized drone light show on Aug. 29 during the annual Block Party, using funds from the canceled July 4th fireworks. The patriotic-themed show celebrates America's 250th anniversary in 2026
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‘Unwavering spirit’: Fest celebrating Mexican culture returns to Glendale HeightsAug 05, 2026 11:39 am - The Monarch Butterfly Festival returns to Glendale Heights on Friday, Aug. 7, featuring Mexican music, food, and cultural performances.
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Lombard reschedules its America’s 250 Fireworks show to Labor Day weekendAug 05, 2026 11:12 am - Lombard’s America 250 Fireworks Display has been rescheduled from July 4 to Sunday, Sept. 6, due to heavy rainfall that saturated Madison Meadow Park grounds.
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Irish Fest kicks off with BBQ, Bands & BrewsAug 05, 2026 10:34 am - The Arlington Heights Historical Museum is hosting two back-to-back fests this week: BBQ, Bands and Brews on Friday, Aug. 7, and Irish Fest on Saturday, Aug. 8.
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Monarch Butterfly Festival takes flight again with free cultural celebration at Glendale Heights’ Camera ParkAug 04, 2026 4:22 pm - The Monarch Butterfly Festival returns to Glendale Heights on Friday, Aug. 7, featuring Mexican music, food, and cultural performances. This year's "Cultural Resistance" theme showcases renowned artists creating live murals, Mexican rock bands Los Corb and El Circo, Aztec dance groups, and bilingual theater.
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Things to do Aug. 7-13: McHenry County Fair, Smoke & Irons Music Fest, Warrenville Summer Daze and moreAug 04, 2026 2:16 pm - Mark your calendar for McHenry County Fair, Warrenville Summer Daze, Smoke and Irons Music Fest, Jamboree Days, Gurnee Days, Hampshire Coon Creek Country Days and more.
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Jamboree Days revives Carpentersville’s summer fest tradition
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Gurnee Days returns with live music, food trucks, paradeAug 04, 2026 9:27 am - Gurnee Days, the annual end-of-summer celebration, returns Friday through Sunday, Aug. 7-9, bringing with it fireworks, a parade, live music, a car show and more to Viking Park.
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McHenry County Fair introduces its first Round Bale RumbleAug 03, 2026 12:41 pm - The McHenry County Fair (Aug 4-9) introduces its first Round Bale Rumble competition, where teams race to push massive hay bales. The weeklong fair features rodeo, quad racing, demolition derby, live music, food-eating contests, look-alike competitions, and various free family activities at the Woodstock fairgrounds.