More Than Just 2022 Food Festivals in Chicago!

Yes, 2022 Food Festivals in Chicago

BUT, Other Festivals, Too!

As the weather begins to warm up, so does the food festival season in Chicago.

Annual food festivals in Chicago that Windy City residents look forward to every year are typically held between June and September. But food still plays a big role whether it’s a “food festival” or another local event.

The city is home to dozens of festivals throughout the year, celebrating everything from music and food to art and culture. So, here’s a peek at some of the best food festivals in Chicago and other festivals you want to add to your Google calendar right now!

Some of the Best Festivals & Annual Chicago Events

Food Festivals in Chicago

We have to start with a few of the biggest and most unique food festivals in Chicago in 2022.

Taste of Chicago

The Taste of Chicago is the largest food festival in the city, with over 100 food vendors participating each year. Held in Grant Park for three days in July, this premier food festival in Chicago offers something for everyone, with food from all over the world, live music, and family-friendly activities.

Vegandale Festival, Vegandale food festival in Chicago IL

Vegandale Festival

Chicago is one of six cities to host the fastest-growing vegan festival known as Vegandale. This Chicago food festival is also held in Miami, New York, Los Angeles, Dallas, and Toronto. The Vegandale Festival is now an annual event at Grant Park held in June with food (of course!), music, contests, and art installations and is a fun, family-friendly way to spend the day.

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More Food Festivals in Chicago, IL

June – Lincoln Park Greek Festival

June – Windy City Hot Dog Fest

July – Big Greek Food Fest – Niles

July – Tacos y Tamales Festival

July – Chinatown Summer Fair

July – Taste of Lincoln Avenue

July – Roscoe Village Burger Fest

August – Festa Italiana – Naperville

August – Ginza Holiday Festival

August – Chicago’s Little Italy Fest

August – Ribfest Chicago

September – Chicago Gourmet

September – Taste of Polonia

September – Sam Adams Lakeview Taco Fest

September – Oktoberfest Chicago

September – Lincoln Park Gyros Fest

October – Lincoln Park Wine Fest

Scroll down to the master list of Chicago festivals for website links and other events.

Updated Calendar of Chicago Festivals & Events

Our official Chicago Events Calendar powered by Evvnt features the best of what the area has to offer. You’ll find festivals for this upcoming weekend and the following weeks. There are also other things to do including plays, musicals, concerts, comedy, and much more!

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Randolph Street Market festival in Chicago, Chicago festivals
An aerial view of the Randolph Street Market Festival in Chicago IL

Other Fun Chicago Area Festivals

Chicago Blues Festival

The Chicago Blues Festival is one of the city’s longest-running and most popular festivals. Held annually in June, the three-day festival celebrates the blues music genre and features performances by some of the biggest names in blues music.

Past performers have included Bobby Rush, Koko Taylor, and Willie Dixon.

Chicago Jazz Festival

Not only is the Chicago Jazz Festival the place to be every Labor Day, but admission is free!

The Chicago Jazz Festival is a four-day event held in Millennium Park, celebrating jazz music. You’ll enjoy performances by some of the biggest names in jazz, as well as up-and-coming artists. Past performers have included Herbie Hancock, Ella Fitzgerald, Miles Davis, Wynton Marsalis, and Benny Goodman.

North Coast Music Festival

If jazz isn’t your thing, you still have a Labor Day go-to festival. The North Coast Music Festival is a three-day music extravaganza that moved from Union Park to SeatGeek Stadium in Bridgeview. The festival features performances by electronica, hip-hop, and EDM artists, as well as live bands.

Unlike the Chicago Jazz Festival, admission isn’t free. But you’ll catch an exciting 2022 featuring DIPLO, Slander, Jai Wolf, Fisher, Kaytranada, and a long (long!) list of others.

Randolph Street Market Festival

The twice-a-year Randolph Street Market Festival is in July and September, giving you twice as many opportunities to shop. Vendors travel from across the US, offering vintage fashion, furnishing, jewelry, antiques…

But there’s more than just amazing and unique things to buy. The Randolph Street Market is another food festival in Chicago and the place to be for music, cocktails, and an all-around good time.

More Annual Festivals in Chicago

Here’s a handy list of websites for some of the area’s fun festivals throughout 2022. If you’ve missed some, you can look forward to them in 2023 and beyond!

Chicago FestivalsWebsite
Big Greek Food Fest - Nileshttps://www.biggreekfoodfestofniles.org/
Chicago Air and Water Showhttps://www.chicago.gov/city/en/depts/dca/supp_info/chicago_air_and_watershow.html
Chicago Blues Festivalhttps://www.cityofchicago.org/city/en/depts/dca/supp_info/chicago_blues_festival.html
Chicago Gourmethttps://www.chicagogourmet.org/
Chicago Halal Food Festivalhttp://www.halalfestivals.com
Chicago Humanities Festivalshttp://www.chicagohumanities.org
Chicago International Film Festivalhttps://www.chicagofilmfestival.com
Chicago Jazz Festival.https://www.chicago.gov/city/en/depts/dca/supp_info/chicago_jazz_festival.html
Chicago Latino Film Festivalhttps://chicagolatinofilmfestival.org
Chicago Sketch Comedy Festivalhttps://heronagency.com
Chicago Underground Film Festivalhttp://www.ifpchicago.org
Chicago's Little Italy Festhttps://www.facebook.com/LittleItalyFestaTaylorSt/
Chinatown Summer Fairhttps://www.ccc-foundation.org/summer-fair/
Christkindlmarkethttps://www.christkindlmarket.com/
Cornerstone Festivalhttp://cornerstonefestival.com
Festa Italiana - Napervillehttps://www.starevents.com/event/festa-italiana/
Ginza Holiday Festivalhttps://ginzaholiday.com
Grant Park Music Festivalhttps://www.grantparkmusicfestival.com/about/festival-staff
Haiku Festival Chicagohttp://www.haikufest.com
Lincoln Park Greek Festivalhttps://www.lincolnparkgreekfest.com/
Lincoln Park Gyros Festhttps://chicagoevents.com/events/lincoln-park-gyros-fest/
Lincoln Park Wine Festhttps://chicagoevents.com/events/lincolnparkwinefestival/
Lollapaloozahttps://www.lollapalooza.com/
North Coast Music Festivalhttps://www.northcoastfestival.com/
Northalsted Market Dayshttps://chicagoevents.com/events/northalsted-market-days/
Oktoberfest Chicagohttps://chicagoevents.com/events/oktoberfest-chicago/
Pitchfork Music Festivalhttps://pitchforkmusicfestival.com/
Randolph Street Market Festivalhttps://randolphstreetmarket.com/
Ribfest Chicagohttps://chicagoevents.com/events/ribfest-chicago/
Roscoe Village Burger Festhttps://chicagoevents.com/events/roscoe-village-burger-fest/
Sam Adams Lakeview Taco Festhttps://chicagoevents.com/events/lakeviewtacofest/
Sangria Festival Chicagohttps://www.sangriafestivalchicago.com
St. Lucia Festival of Lights - Andersonvillehttps://andersonville.org/events/holiday-events/st-lucia-festival-of-lights/
Summer Set Music Festivalhttps://www.summersetfestival.com
Tacos y Tamales Festivalhttp://chicagotacofest.com/#about
Taste of Chicagohttps://www.chicago.gov/city/en/depts/dca/supp_info/taste_of_chicago.html
Taste of Lincoln Avenuehttps://www.tasteoflincolnchicago.com/
Taste of Poloniahttps://topchicago.org/
Theater On The Lakehttps://theateronthelake.com/theater
Vegandale Festivalhttps://www.vegandalefest.com/chicago/
Windy City Hot Dog Festhttps://m.facebook.com/events/688955858969921/688955865636587/?active_tab=about

Did we leave your festival off the list? Send us the info and we’ll be sure to add it.



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Chicago Festivals – FAQs

 
What are some of the biggest food festivals in Chicago in 2022?

The Taste of Chicago, held annually in July, is one of the largest and most prominent food festivals in Chicago. But the Windy City is also known for its tributes to international fare with events like Taste of Polonia, Festa Italiana, and the Lincoln Park Greek Festival.

How can I find out about festivals in Chicago this weekend?

The Chicago Guide on OTLCityGuides.com has a fairs and festivals calendar that updates hourly. You can search specifically for fairs and festivals or take a peek at all kinds of things to do in Chicago, Illinois.

What are the best festivals in Chicago for families?

It’s challenging to narrow the list of the best family festivals in the Windy City. Any of the amazing food festivals in Chicago are ideal for kids of all ages. They feature yummy handheld food that children love, and some even have rides, games, and other interactive activities. A few of the best include Festa Italiana in Naperville, Windy City Hot Dog Fest, and Chicago’s Little Italy Fest.