Illinois Summer Festival Guide 2021

ILLINOIS — With schools letting out for summer and temperatures heating up, local events and festivals are picking up for the season. Here are some events to keep you and the kids busy until school is back in session and the weather cools off.

From live music and food fests to craft beer and fireworks, there's no shortage of entertainment to be had as coronavirus restrictions are lifted in Illinois.

Chicago

July (Dates still TBA), Taste of Chicago To-Go,at Grant Park, Jackson and Columbus. To-go food, live music, family activities.

July 29-Aug. 1, Lollapalooza, at Grant Park at Jackson and Columbus. Four-day music festival in Grant Park featuring the Foo Fighters, Post Malone, Tyler, The Creator, Miley Cyrus, Megan Thee Stallion and more.

Sept. 10-12, Pitchfork Music Festival, at Union Park, 1501 W Randolph St. Three-day music fest featuring Phoebe Bridgers, St. Vincent, Erykah Badu and more.

Cook County

June 4-6, La Grange Carnival, Harris Street between La Grange Road and Ashland Avenue in La Grange. Featuring carnival rides, games, concessions. Unlimited carnival rides, tickets available, price varies.

July 8-11, Friendship Fest at Moraine Valley, 9000 College Parkway in Palos Hills. Featuring bands, horse shows, food, carnival rides, fireworks, ponies, live music.

July 18, Tinley Park Block Party on Oak Park Avenue in downtown Tinley Park. The block party has a tropical theme this year, and will feature a "Taste of Tinley," with local businesses and organizers.

July 24-25, Summer Art Fair, Lyon Elementary School, 1335 Waukegan Road in Glenview. Fine art and fine craft fair put on by Glenview Art League.

Aug. 29, A Walk In The Park at North School Park, East Eastman Street and North Evergreen Avenue in Arlington Heights. One-day outdoor art fair featuring art, music and food booths.

Sept. 10-12, Fall on the Green at 95th Street and Cook Avenue in Oak Lawn. In addition to live music, the fest features a food tent featuring local restaurants, beverage tent, a craft tent, business tent, teen and children's activities, trivia, bingo and more.

DuPage County

June 5-6, Hinsdale Fine Arts Festival in Burlington Park, 30 E. Chicago Ave. in Hinsdale. Featuring paintings, sculptures, photography, jewelry, mixed media, ceramics and several other artists' booths.

Aug. 28, Naperville Ale Fest at Naper Settlement, 523 S. Webster St. in Naperville. More than 100 craft beers, food from the area's favorite food trucks and more.

Kendall County

July 29-Aug. 1, Kendall County Fair, 10826 IL-71 in Yorkville. Truck and tractor pulls, beer garden, western speed show and more.

Aug. 13-15, Montgomery Fest, 301 N. River St. in Montgomery. Along the banks of the Fox River featuring live entertainment, car show, K-9 demonstration, parade, carnival rides, petting zoo, fireworks.

Sept. 3-6, PrairieFest at 91 Plank Drive, in Oswego. Food, live music (Jeff & Kurt's Acoustic Refreshment, Beyond the Blonde, Boy Band Review, Members Only 80s band, Evil Burrito, Uncle Kracker, Whiskey Romance & Hillbilly Rockstarz, Swing Assembly), carnival, "Flippenout" trampoline show.

Lake County

Aug. 12-15, Libertyville Days at 135 W. Church St. in Libertyville. Music, food, a carnival, parade, and beer garden. This year's theme will be "Let's Give It A Shot!" to honor community heroes.

Aug. 20-21, Grayslake Summer Days at 33 S. Whitney St. in Grayslake. Featuring food, parade, music, games and more.

McHenry County

July 8-11, Lake In The Hills Ribfest at Sunset Park, 5200 Miller Road, in Lake In The Hills. Ribs, music, a carnival, drinks; featuring bands like Voyage, Karma Committee, 7th Heaven, and more.

Sept. 11-12, Algonquin Arts on the Fox and Artisan Fair at Main and Washington Streets in Algonquin. A variety of artwork, jewelry, furniture, ceramics, fashion, accessories, paintings, flat arts, 3D art pieces and more.

Will County

June 10-13, Old Canal Days at the Chevron property, 301 W. Second St. in Lockport. Featuring live music, a carnival, parade, and artisan market.

June 24-27, HomerFest at Heritage Park, 14240 W. 151st St. in Homer Glen. Featuring live music, food, carnival, beer tent, and a fireworks show.

Aug. 6-8, Shorewood Crossroads Festival at Cene's Four Seasons Park, 25520 W. Seil Road in Shorewood. Carnival rides, food, music, contests, bags tournament, craft and vendor show.

Aug. 14, Joliet Blues Festival at Billie Limacher Bicentennial Park, 201 Jefferson St. in Joliet. Live blues, food trucks, beer and wine. Featuring Donna Herula and Tony Nardiello, the HepKats, Big Dog Mercer, The Ivy Ford Band.

Aug. 25-Aug. 29, Will County Fair at the Will County Fairgrounds, 710 S. West St. in Peotone. Family entertainment, live music, demolition derby, races and more.

Sept. 17-19, Romeoville Founders Day Weekend at Deer Crossing Park and Village Park in Romeoville. Parade, fireworks, entertainment.

Other events typically held during the summer — like the Chicago Pride Parade, which is normally in June but is set for Oct. 3 this year — may still happen but may be held later than usual. Chicago Pride Fest, which normally happens the week before the parade, will happen, but dates are still to be announced.

Dates for several other summer events are still pending, and some events normally planned in the summer have shifted to the fall.