Looking for something to do this summer? You don’t have to travel far. Street fests in neighborhoods across Chicago pop up faster than you can pencil them in to your calendar. Everything from food and arts and crafts and music are celebrated each summer, city block by city block and across the region.
Whether it’s down the street, along the lakefront or at the county fairgrounds, there’s something happening outside every day, all summer. Here’s a look at some of the area’s best festivals:
ALL SUMMER
Through Oct. 27,Green City Market: various locations around the city; greencitymarket.org
Through Oct. 30, Chicago City Markets:Through Oct. 30, various locations around the city; chicagocitymarkets.us
May 26-Aug. 30, Rockin’ in the Park: With Kaleidoscope, The Four C Notes, One of These Nights, 52nd Street and more. Parkway Bank Park, 5501 Park Place, Rosemont; parkwaybankpark.com
June 4-Aug. 20, Millennium Park Summer Film Series:Michigan and Randolph; millenniumpark.org
June 27-Aug. 24, Chicago SummerDance:Grant Park, Spirit of Music Garden, 601 S. Michigan; chicagosummerdance.org
MAY
May 18-19, Lincoln Park Wine Festival: May 18-19, Jonquil Park, 1001 W. Wrightwood; chicagoevents.com
May 18-19, Mayfest:With Rod Tuffcurls and the Bench Press, Too White Crew, 16 Candles and more. 3100 N. Ashland; starevents.com
May 18-19, Chocolate Fest:downtown Long Grove, 308 Old McHenry; longgrove.org
May 18-19, Palos Park Art Festival:8901 W. 123rd, Palos Park; starevents.com
May 24-26, Gaelic Park Irish Fest: With Nathan Carter, The Fitzgeralds, Backwest Music, Steel City Rovers, Maggie Speaks and more. 147th Street, two miles west of Cicero or one block east of Ridgeland, Oak Forest; visit chicagogaelicpark.org
May 24-26, May 24-26, Mole de Mayo:18th Street and Halsted; starevents.com
May 31-June 2, Lincoln Park Greek Fest:St. George Greek Orthodox Church, 2701 N. Sheffield; chicagoevents.com
May 31-June 2, Do Division Street Fest and Sidewalk Sale:on Division between Damen and Leavitt; do-divisionstreetfest.com
May 31-June 8, Physical Theater Festival Chicago:Stage 773, 1225 W. Belmont; physicalfestival.com
May 31-June 2, Taste of Mexico:26th Street and California; chicagoevents.com
May 31-June 9, Pivot Arts Festival:Showcasing innovative theater, music and dance throughout Uptown and Edgewater neighborhoods; pivotarts.org
JUNE
June 1-2, 57th Street Art Fair:on 57th between Kenwood and Woodlawn; 57thstreetartfair.org
June 1-2, Gold Coast Art Fair:Grant Park, Butler Field, between Monroe and Jackson; amdurproductions.com
June 2, Porchfest:Lincoln, Southport and Wellington; lakeviewchamber.com
June 7-9, Andersonville Midsommarfest: Clark and Foster; starevents.com
June 14-16, Ribfest Chicago:at Lincoln, Damen and Irving Park; ribfest-chicago.com
June 8-9, Pilsen Food Truck Social: on 18th St. between Racine and Throop; pilsenfoodtrucksocial.com
June 8-9, Printers Row Lit Fest:on Dearborn between Congress and Polk; printersrowlitfest.org
June 8-9, Old Town Art Fair:around Old Town Triangle Association building, 1763 N. North Park; oldtownartfair.org
June 8-9, Wells Street Art Festival:on Wells between North and Division; wellsstreetartfest.us
June 8-9, Promenade of Art:121 W. Campbell, Arlington Heights; amdurproductions.com
June 9, Boing! Family Festival: Chicago Children’s Theatre, 100 S. Racine; chicagochildrenstheatre.org
June 14-16, Taste of Randolph Street:Randolph and Peoria; starevents.com
June 14-15, Scottish Festival and Highland Games:Hamilton Lakes, 1 Pierce Place, Itasca; scottishfestivalchicago.org
June 14-15, Blues on the Fox Festival:With Taj Mahal Quartet, Ana Popovic, Robert Randolph and the Family Band, Coco Montoya, Ronnie Baker Brooks, Jamiah Rogers. RiverEdge Park, 360 N. Broadway, Aurora; riveredgeaurora.com
June 15, Chicago Taco & Tequila Fest: Lincoln Park, Stockton and LaSalle; chicagoevents.com
June 20-23, Out of Space:With Digable Planets, Toots & the Maytals, Liz Phair, Yo La Tengo. Temperance Beer Co, 2000 Dempster, Evanston; spacepresents.com
June 21-22, Old St. Pat’s World’s Largest Block Party:on Des Plaines from Adams to Madison; worldslargestblockparty.com
June 21-23, Strawberry Fest:downtown Long Grove, 308 Old McHenry, Long Grove; longgrove.org
June 22-23, Chicago Pride Fest:on Halsted from Addison to Grace; Chicago Pride Parade,June 30, on Halsted and Broadway between Montrose and Diversey; northhalsted.com
June 22-23, Fountain Square Artisan SummerFest:Church and Sherman, Evanston; chicagoevents.com
June 22-23, Festival of Fine Arts.1957 Sheridan, Highland Park; amdurproductions.com
June 26-July 7, Summerfest:With Thomas Rhett, the Outlaw Music Festival (featuring Willie Nelson, Phil Lesh, The Avett Brothers, Counting Crows, Alison Krauss and Dawes), Bon Iver, Lionel Richie, Ozzy Osbourne, The Killers, Lil Wayne, Snoop Dogg and more, along the lakefront, Milwaukee; summerfest.com
June 28-30, Millennium Art Festival:Michigan and Lake; amdurproductions.com
June 28-30, Logan Square Arts Festival:Illinois Centennial Monument on Logan Square; logansquareartsfestival.com
June 29, Pride in the Park:Butler Field, 377 E. Monroe; prideintheparkchicago.com
JULY
July 3-6, Naperville Ribfest:With Billy Idol, Flo Rida, Brantley Gilbert, and plenty of food, family fun. 724 S. West St., Naperville; ribfest.net
July 4, Fireworks at Navy Pier:600 E. Grand; navypier.org
July 4, Lake Forest Festival: Deepath Community Park, 400 Hastings, Lake Forest; chicagoevents.com
July 4-6, Windy City Ribfest:Lawrence and Broadway; chicagoevents.com
July 4-7, International Festival of Life:Union Park, 1501 W. Randolph; internationalfestivaloflife.com
July 4-6, Lisle Eyes to the Skies: Lisle Community Park, 1825 Short, Lisle; eyestotheskies.org
July 5-7, West Fest Chicago: on Chicago between Damen and Wood; westfestchicago.com
July 6, Chosen Few Old School Reunion Picnic and Festival:Jackson Park, 6401 S. Stony Island; chicagoevents.com
July 6-7, Chicago Botanic Garden Art Festival: 1000 Lake Cook, Glencoe; chicagobotanic.org
July 10-14, Taste of Chicago: Grant Park, Jackson and Columbus; tasteofchicago.us
July 12: Irish Fest,with McPeake, Tupelo, Shane Hennessy, The Bryne Brothers, House of Hamill and more. Through July 14, Irish American Heritage Center, 4626 N. Knox; irish-american.org
July 12-14, Square Roots Festival:on Lincoln between Montrose and Wilson; squareroots.org
July 13-14, Southport Art Festival:Southport and Waveland; starevents.com
July 13-14, Roscoe Village Burger Fest:Belmont and Damen; chicagoevents.com
July 21, Chinatown Summer Fair:2200 S. Wentworth; chicagoevents.com
July 17-21, Kane County Fair: Kane County Fairgrounds, St. Charles; kanecountyfair.com
July 19-21, Sheffield Street Fest: on Sheffield between Webster and Fullerton; sheffieldneighborhood.org
July 19-21, Taste of River North: Ward Park, 630 N. Kingsbury; tasteofrivernorth.com
July 19-20, Artfest Michigan Avenue: 435 N. Michigan; amdurproductions.com
July 19-21, BenFest: St. Benedict Parish, 2215 W. Irving Park; parish.stbenedict.com
July 19-21, Colombian Fest:With Lisandro Meza, Grupo Niche, Alex Manga, Adalberto Santiago and more. Kelvyn Park, 4438 W. Wrightwood; colombianfestchicago.com
July 20-21, Sheffield Garden Walk:on Sheffield between Webster and Fullerton; sheffieldneighborhood.org
July 20-21, Chicago Craft Beer Fest: on Lincoln between Addison and Roscoe; chicagoevents.com
July 24-28, Lake County Fair:Lake County Fairgrounds, Grayslake; lcfair.com
July 26-28, Wicker Park Fest: on Milwaukee between Ashland and North; wickerparkfest.com
July 27-28, Taste of Lincoln Avenue:on Lincoln between Fullerton and Wrightwood; chicagoevents.com
July 27-28, Glencoe Festival of Art:Green Bay and Park, Glencoe; amdurproductions.com
AUGUST
Aug. 2-4, Jeff Fest:Jefferson Memorial Park, 4822 N. Long; chicagoevents.com
Aug. 2-29, Black Harvest Film Festival:Gene Siskel Film Center, 164 N. State; siskelfilmcenter.org
Aug. 2-4, Festa Italiana:Naper Settlement, Webster and Aurora, Naperville; starevents.com
Aug. 3-4, Edge Fest:Broadway and Thorndale; starevents.com
Aug. 3-4, Art at the Glen: 2030 Tower, Glenview; amdurproductions.com
Aug. 3-4, Chicago Brewing District’s Dancing in the Streets: on Hubbard between Paulina and Wood; dancinginthestreetschicago.com
Aug. 8-11, Out of Space: With Jeff Tweedy, Cake, Bruce Hornsby, Mandolin Orange, I’m With Her, Suzanne Vega, Ohmme and more. Canal Shores Golf Course, 1030 Central, Evanston; spacepresents.com
Aug. 8-18, Illinois State Fair:With Dan & Shay, The Traveling Salvation Show, Why Don’t We, Pentatonix, Old Dominion, Snoop Dogg & Friends, Reba McEntire , Illinois State Fairgrounds, Springfield; https://www2.illinois.gov/statefair/Pages/default.aspx
Aug. 9-11, , Retro on Roscoe:Roscoe and Damen; starevents.com
Aug. 9-11, Ginza Holiday Festival:Midwest Buddhist Temple, 435 W. Menomonee; ginzaholiday.com
Aug. 9-11, Festival Cubano:Riis Park, 6100 W. Fullerton; thecubanfestival.com
Aug. 10: The 90th Annual Bud Billiken Parade: intersection of King Drive and Oakwood Boulevard; http://www.budbillikenparade.org/
Aug. 10: Made in Chicago Market, 1340 W. Washington; https://www.madeinchicagomarket.com/
Aug. 10-11, North Halsted Market Days:on Halsted between Belmont and Addison; chicagoevents.com
Aug. 10-11, Lincolnshire Art Festival: Milwaukee and Olde Half Day Rd., Lincolnshire; amdurproductions.com
Aug. 15, Clark After Dark:Clark and Hubbard; starevents.com
Aug. 15-18, Milwaukee Irish Fest:Maier Park, 200 N. Harbor, Milwaukee; irishfest.com
Aug. 16-18, Evanston Art and Big Fork Festival:downtown Evanston; amdurproductons.com
Aug. 17, Dance for Life:With Giordano Dance Chicago, Hubbard Dance Chicago, The Joffrey Ballet, Chicago Dance Crash, Chicago Human Rhythm Project, Ensemble Espanol Spanish Dance Theater. Auditorium Theatre, 50 E. Ida B. Wells Dr.; chicagodancersunited.org
Aug. 17-18, Chicago Air and Water Show:North Avenue Beach, 1600 N. Lake Shore; chicagoairandwatershow.us
Aug. 17-18, Pilsen Fest:on Blue Island Avenue between 18th and 21st; pilsenfestchicago.com
Aug. 17-18, Sangria Festival:Humboldt Park; sangriafestivalchicago.com
Aug. 17-18, Vintage Days:downtown Long Grove, 308 Old McHenry, Long Grove; longgrove.org
Aug. 22-25, Wizard World Comic Con Chicago:Donald E. Stephens Convention Center, 5555 N. River Rd., Rosemont; wizardworld.com/comiccon/chicago
Aug. 23-25, Taste of Greektown:Halsted and Van Buren; chicagoevents.com
Aug. 24-25, Bucktown Arts Fest: Oakley and Lyndale; bucktownartsfest.com
Aug. 24-25, Port Clinton Art Festival:600 Central, Highland Park; amdurproductions.com
Aug. 1-Sept. 2, Irish Days:downtown Long Grove, 308 Old McHenry, Long Grove; longgrove.org
SEPTEMBER
Sept. 6-8, Festival de la Villita:26th Street and Kostner; chicagoevents.com
Sept. 6-8, Throwback Music Festival:Milwaukee and Peterson; chicagoevents.com
Sept. 7-8, Renegade Craft Chicago: on Division between Damen and Ashland; renegadecraft.com
Sept. 7-8, Deer Park Art Show:Deer Park Town Center, 20530 N. Rand; andurproductions.com
Sept.14-15, Printers Row Art Fest:47 W. Polk; amdurproductions.com
Sept. 14-15, Chicago Bourbon & Barbecue Festival: Damen and Roscoe; chicagoevents.com
Sept. 14-15, Lakeview East Festival of the Arts:on Broadway from Belmont to Hawthorne; lakevieweastfestivalofthearts.com
Sept. 20-22, Apple Fest:downtown Long Grove, 308 Old McHenry, Long Grove; longgrove.org
Sept. 21, Lake Forest Fall Fest:Lake Forest City Hall, 220 Deerpath; chicagoevents.com
Sept. 21-22, Andersonville Arts Fest:Clark and Winona; amdurproductons.com
Sept. 21-22, Chicago Food Truck Fall Festival:LaBagh Woods, 5275 N. Cicero; chgofoodtruckfest.com
Sept. 21-22, Sam Adams Lakeview Taco Fest:on Southport between Addison and Roscoe; chicagoevents.com
Sept. 21-22, Northshore Affordable Art Show:Westfield Old Orchard Shopping Center, 4905 Old Orchard, Skokie; amdurproductions.com
Sept. 21-22, Arboretum of South Barrington Art Festival:100 W. Higgins, South Barrington; amdurproductions.com
Sept. 27-29, Oktoberfest Chicago:at Lincoln, Southport and Wellington; chicagoevents.com
Sept. 27-28, West Town Art Walk,on Chicago between Milwaukee and Western; westtownchicago.com
Sept. 28-29, Edgewater Arts Festival:Broadway and Granville; starevents.com