Festivals | The Scene

The biggest summer festival in Joliet starts at 3 p.m. Friday and runs through the weekend featuring more than 20 food vendors, just about as many music acts, and a carnival.

The yearly schedule of outdoor festivals in DeKalb County will ramp up over the coming weeks. Here is your guide to every large festival and event planned in DeKalb County through September:

From 11 a.m. to 7 p.m., attendees can enjoy a 5K, music, food trucks, kids games, craft vendors, contests, a dog pageant show, dance party and costume parade.

Downers Grove’s annual Rotary Grove Fest kicks off on Thursday in the downtown area

Swedish Days is June 18-22 in downtown Geneva.

Put on by the Oswegoland Park District, PrairieFest is Kendall County’s largest festival, attracting upwards of 75,000 people every year. Admission to PrairieFest is free.

The Ottawa Family Pride Festival is set to return Saturday, June 14, with a full day of family-friendly entertainment, music and games in downtown Ottawa.

The McHenry Music Festival is set for Friday, Sept. 12- Sunday, Sept. 14 at Petersen Park. Performers include country singer Sam Hunt, Flo Rida, Bryan Martin and a yet-to-be-named country star.

Your guide to some of the hottest festivals happening in communities across northern Illinois in 2025, from Joliet to Crystal Lake and Dixon to Geneva.