The fall months bring several craft beer festivals throughout northern Illinois.

The 54th annual Homestead Festival parade made its way down Main Street on Saturday, Sept. 6, 2025, downtown Princeton. This years Homestead Festival theme is "We Got Spirit."

With this year's McHenry Music Festival set to kick off Sept. 12, the McHenry City Council this week gave its nod to the 2026 event - with one dissenting vote.

The Captain James A. Lovell Federal Health Care Center is seeking submissions for its 2025 Veterans Creative Arts Festival.

The 10th Annual Elmhurst Craft Beer Fest will make its return Saturday, September 13 outdoors at the Elmhurst History Museum

The 54th annual Homestead Festival began on Thursday with a "Walk of Fame" dedication to actor Robert Petkoff in front of the Apollo Theater followed by "Down of Main Street" summer concert series featuring Electric Avenue- The 80's MTV Experience. On Friday, the festival features a lego design competition, carriage rides, and Rodeo Drive concert. Saturday the parade kicks off at 1:30p.m. and Sunday features a rib cookoff, car show and more.

The family-friendly event runs from 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. on Sunday, Sept. 7, at Vasa Park

Illinois' oldest continuing county fair returns this week with a packed schedule.

The festival honors Rev. Owen Lovejoy’s contributions to the Underground Railroad and offers a blend of historical experiences and modern-day fun.

The Downers Grove Fine Arts Festival will bring more than 50 artists to the city's downtown for this two-day event.

The 76th Grand Detour Arts Festival – one of the oldest of its kind in northern Illinois – returns Sunday, Sept. 7, 2025, to the John Deere Historic Site with art, music and food.

The annual fall event is set for Sept. 5-7.

The village of Herscher hosted hundreds once again for its 104th annual Labor Day Celebration on Monday, Sept. 1, 2025.

Small town communities and long-running annual celebrations seem to go hand in hand. The village of Herscher fully embodies that notion, having hosted its 104th annual Labor Day Celebration over the weekend - the longest running annual event in Kankakee County.

Fortunate Sons, a Creedence Clearwater Revival tribute band, closed out the 2025 Jamboree Music Series in Mt. Morris in record-breaking style Friday, Aug. 29, 2025, with an estimated 2,500 attending the free concert.

Yorkville celebrated the last holiday weekend of summer with its annual Hometown Days festival, held over Labor Day weekend, Thursday through Sunday, Aug. 28-31, at Beecher Community Park, 908 Game Farm Road, Yorkville.

Former 6-term Herscher Mayor Ray Schneider will be honored as Herscher's Labor Day parade grand marshal.

The Saturday event, taking place at Wilder Park from noon to 9 p.m., will feature seven bands, while the parade returns on Sunday.

Looking for something fun to do in DeKalb County this fall? Check out this list of family-friendly events.

The famous toilet bowl race is Saturday, Aug. 30 at 3:30 p.m.

As part of Yorkville's annual Hometown Days Festival, with events running from Thursday to Sunday in Beecher Park, Friday Night belongs to the Swifties.

The annual Herscher Labor Day Celebration kicks off Saturday and activities run through Monday, highlighted by the Grand Parade at 10:30 a.m.

The festival presents music and storytelling performances on six stages which run continuously throughout both days, offering mini-concerts, in-the-round groupings of performers and teaching workshops.

From noon to 7 p.m. Sept. 13, 2025, guests can enjoy free live music, explore craft vendors, and sample fare from food trucks and local favorites, all while watching the crowning of the 2024 Fiesta King, Queen, Princess, Don and Doña.

The annual end-of-summer festival is Thursday, Aug. 28 through Sunday, Aug. 31.

Amboy closed its annual Depot Days fun with the annual car show and 50/50 drawing on Sunday, Aug. 24, 2025.

Cantigny Park has announced its schedule of events for visitors of all ages this September. Details, tickets and menus are available at cantigny.org.

Perfect weather graced the final day of the 10th annual StrawFest Sculpting Contest on Saturday, Aug. 23, 2025, in Mt. Morris. Four new straw sculptures competed in this year's event.

Amboy capped off Depot Days fun with its giant car show and 50/50 raffle Sunday, Aug. 24, 2025. David Shipman of Dixon won the 50/50 raffle, to the tune of $121,701. Photos by Katie Holloway - Shaw Local News Network

Day-long event included live music, games, and demonstrations.

Seven teams composed of two people took part in the Straw Bale Race held at StrawFest in Mt. Morris on Saturday, Aug. 23, 2025. StrawFest was a day-long event, ending the 10th annual Straw Sculpting Competition.

This event is presented by YWCA Clinton in recognition of its 110 years of service.

Amboy’s Kiera Karlson beamed with pride Thursday night, Aug. 21, 2025, as she was crowned the 2025 Miss Amboy pageant winner.

The West End Arts Festival will be held Sept. 6-7 in La Grange.

The Education Foundation of Downers Grove District 58 will host its 12th annual Oktoberfest from 4:30 to 11 p.m. Sept. 12 and 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Sept. 13.

Hosted by the Lemont High School Educational Foundation, the Taste of Lemont will be held from 5 to 11 p.m. Sept. 6 at the Metra Lot in downtown Lemont.

On Saturday, Aug. 9, and Sunday, Aug. 10, the community of Gurnee came together to celebrate the end of summer at Gurnee Days.

The new festival will feature local, regional and national blues and Americana musicians, along with plenty of craft beer and other beverages from local breweries.

The band 7th Heaven will perform Friday, Aug. 22, while Taylorville, a Taylor Swift tribute band, will perform Sunday, Aug. 24.

Performers include hip hop star Flo Rida, country stars Sam Hunt and Bailey Zimmerman and more.

Four grand marshals will reflect heritage and community impact during Collins Street parade on Sept. 13.

For the past five years, Wessels’ Family Farm has grown, harvested and delivered the corn that festivalgoers at Corn Fest in DeKalb enjoy when at the annual end-of-summer festival. They're prepping about 6,000 ears for Saturday.

The Lombard Historical Society, in partnership with Brew Avenue Events, will hold its 4th Annual Food Truck Social Fundraiser from 4 to 9 p.m. Sept. 6 at 23 West Maple St. in downtown Lombard.

Experience how nature fuels creativity during the Forest Preserve District of Will County’s Festival of Arts Through Nature from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 23

The university will host a new Oktoberfest celebration where guests can revel in polka dancing, hearty food and fellowship, all under one big tent.

Ann Sylvester and Emmanuel Lopez have joined the staffs of the city of Joliet and the Joliet City Center Partnership respectively, offering new outlooks for the future of downtown and other parts of the city

The Bureau County Fair, Illinois’ longest running fair, returns to the fairgrounds at 811 W. Peru St. from Wednesday through Sunday, Aug. 20–24.

The 5th annual Bourbonnais Food Truck Fest rolled through The Grove on Saturday as the village celebrated its 150th birthday with a day full of live music, food and family fun.

A record number of players turned out for the Momence Gladiolus Festival Cornhole Tournament during the festival last weekend on Sunday, Aug. 10, 2025.

The 5th annual Bourbonnais Food Truck Fest rolled through The Grove on Saturday as the village celebrated its 150th birthday with a day full of live music, food and family fun.