Summer may be over but the festivals keep coming. Here are 5 post-summer festivals that will fill you with food, drinks, and culture.
Windy City Wine Festival
Windy City Wine Festival
Sept. 9–10
Buckingham Fountain, 301 S. Columbus Dr.
Admission: $35 for advance adult wine tasting ticket and $45 for at-the-door adult wine tasting ticket
After sampling over 300 wines from around the world you’ll want to make some room in your wine fridge as you’ll find some new favorites at the Windy City Wine Festival. Along with all that wine enjoy food from All Natural Chicago Catering, Chifare, Copper Oven Pizza, Dark Horse Grill, Del Campo Tacos, Empanadus Restaurant, Gayle’s Best Ever Grilled Cheese, Guilty Pleasurez Cocktail Cupcakes, Nothing Bundt Cakes, Passanante’s Home Food Services, Pinstripes, and Taco in a Bag. The tasting tickets include 12 tastings with a souvenir wine glass, a pint of beer, access to seminars, live music, and wine discounts.
Hip-Hop Summer Fest
Hip-Hop Summer Fest
Sept. 9–11
Addams/Medill Park, 1301 W. 14th St.
Admission: Tickets from $48
True hip-hop heads should be flocking to Hip-Hop Summer Fest with a lineup that includes Doug E. Fresh, Slick Rick, Big Daddy Kane, Trina, Twista, Kid N Play, Monie Love, Chubb Rock, and much more. For the new school there will also be some up-and-coming artists like Spenzo, Stunt Taylor, Dlow, and Queen Key.
Chicago German-American Oktoberfest
Chicago German-American Oktoberfest
Sept. 9–11
Lincoln Avenue from Irving Park Road North to Eastwood Avenue, West to Western Avenue, North to Lawrence Avenue
Admission: Free
A little bit of Deutschland rises in Lincoln Square during the Chicago German-American Oktoberfest. Enjoy traditional German food and drinks, two stages with live German bands playing traditional music, and carnival games for the whole family. The festival ends with the Von Steuben Day Parade, honoring Baron Friedrich von Steuben who left what was then the Kingdom of Prussia and volunteered in the Continental Army.
Festival de la Villita
Festival de la Villita
Sept. 9–11
Plaza Garibaldi, 2700 W. 26th St.
Admission: Free, and the Sunday concert and rodeo is $20
At Festival de la Villita not only will you celebrate Mexico’s independence from Spain, but all the great things the Hispanic community provides Chicago with: live music, carnival rides, and mouthwatering food.
Shock Top Oyster Fest
Shock Top Oyster Fest
Sept. 10
2000 W. Roscoe St.
Admission: $7 gate donation
Back for its 18th year, do not miss Shock Top Oyster Fest in Roscoe Village. Local restaurants will be offering fresh seafood along with other delectable dishes and, of course, oysters. You’ll enjoy Fanny Bay oysters from Vancouver Island, British Columbia, known for their fluted shell and clean meats, and Bevans Blue Point Oysters, known for being less briny and creamier, from the Potomac River. The oysters will be harvested Sept. 7.
Written By Joel Mora
Joel Mora is editor at Concierge Preferred. Born and raised in Miami, Fl., Joel has slowly ate, drank, and explored his way up north refining all his senses to prepare for the stampede of delicious dining, notorious nightlife, stellar shopping, and captivating culture that calls Chicago home. In the wild he’ll be the red-bearded Cuban with a Lagunitas IPA in his hand.