09/25/2026
🍂 Chicago’s fall calendar is loaded again! From the thrill-ride pumpkin farms at Bengtson’s (open through Nov 8) to Fulton Market’s six-week Oktoberfest Nation stein-holding showdowns, we pulled 12 of the biggest festivals into one easy list. Add Des Plaines Fall Fest’s free lakefront concerts (Sept 19-20), Huntley’s 3-day fireworks-topped celebration (Sept 25-27) or Long Grove’s legendary apple pies (Sept 25-27) to your weekend plans. Craft-beer fans, Morton Arboretum pours 60+ ciders and ales on Oct 3 while St. Al’s Oktoberfest keeps the lederhosen vibe in Lakeview the same weekend.
Whether you’re hunting photo-ops in Jack’s downtown corn maze or carving pumpkins for the Great Highwood wall of jack-o-lanterns, there’s a fest for every mood and neighborhood. Use this lineup to map out the season before the leaves drop!
👀 Which festival tops your bucket list this year? Drop your pick below, DM us for neighborhood recs, and save this post so you’re not scrambling for plans when the first chill hits. 🍁
Source: https://wgntv.com/news/chicago-news/12-fall-festivals-to-check-out-around-chicagoland/
