16 German Festivals In Illinois You Don't Want To Miss This Fall
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Elizabeth Crozier
Author
If you know anything about Illinois’ heritage, it should come as no surprise that German festivals are some of the most popular in the state. Locals look forward to these beer and food fairs every year, and fall is the perfect time for them.
If you love festivals, these are the 16 Oktoberfests you should attend in Illinois. Keep scrolling for dates and other details.
Taking place at the St. Leonard School located at 3322 Clarence Avenue in Berwyn, this is a block party open to more than just neighborhood locals. It features food and craft booths, fun inflatables, and live music.
Featuring two stages of live music, this free festival also includes fun events such as the Superhero 5K run. It takes place each year at the Village Green located at 5510 Prairie Stone Parkway in Hoffman Estates.
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Enjoy authentic German food and beer at this fabulous fair. It features a keg rolling ceremony and other traditional German events as well as a raffle. Easily accessible by train, the festival takes places right across the tracks from the Palatine Train Station, Northwest Line, at 150 W Slade Street in Palatine.
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One of the most popular German festivals in the state, this one takes place at RiverFront Park, 200 NE Water Street. Admission is $7 or $10, depending on the day, and Sunday is free if you bring a can good to donate. Events include a costume contest, Das Bier Run, and a puppet theatre for kids.
This festival features three stages with live entertainment as well as rides, food vendors, and a plethora of activities. Locals visit for the authentic German eats and beer as well as other fair food. Events include a wiener dog race, a costume contest, a cornhole tournament, a car show. It takes place at N 1st Street and W Main Street.
An annual festival, this one takes place at The Two Brothers Roundhouse at 205 N Broadway in Aurora. Visitors enjoy steins of authentic German beer as well as food and games. The best part is that entry is free.
This annual festival takes place at Depot Park which is at Highway 20 and Park Avenue in Galena. There is a $5 admission fee for adults while children ages 12 and less are free. The event features live music, wiener dog races, polka dancing and lessons, food trucks, and a beer stein endurance contest.
Each year, locals look forward to beer and brats as well as German music at this fair. Admission is $5 for adults while active military and veterans may enter free of cost. It takes place outside the St. Alphonsus Church at the corner of Lincoln, Wellington, and Southport in Lakeview.
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Enjoy authentic German music, food, and dancing throughout the day at this fun fest. You'll also get to experience a wiener dog race, a pet parade, beer and wine tastings, and games throughout the day. It takes places at the Morgan County Fairgrounds at 110 S Westgate Avenue.
People look forward to this authentic festival each year. It features folk dancers and live bands as well as more food than you can try in one day. Admission is $8, and it takes places at the German/American Cultural Center located at 259 West Grand Avenue in Lake Villa.
Locals love to come out for live music, games, and a silent auction at this incredible festival. It features a ceremonial keg tapping as well as a plethora of German and American food. It takes place at St. Mary's Catholic Church, 519 East 4th Street in Alton.
This annual celebrations takes place in downtown Champaign at the corner of Neil and Washington which is the parking lot in front of the Orpheum Children's Science Museum. Entry is $5, and in addition to sausages, pretzels, and beer, guests enjoy polka dancing and music.
Admission to this festival is free, and it is one of the best places to find authentic German cuisine. Visitors also enjoy live entertainment and trolley tours. The festival takes place in Quincy’s German Historic District on York Street between 9th and 10th streets.
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Popping up each year in downtown Mount Prospect at the intersection of Emerson Street and Busse Avenue, you'll find one of Illinois' most wonderful German festivals. Visitors enjoy various activities like pumpkin decorating, trick-or-treating, hay rides, food vendors, and live music. There's even a make-your-own scarecrow event.
This unique festival features split-the-pot raffles as well as German food and drinks. Cost of entry is $10 for adults but free to youth of all ages (under 18 years). It takes place at 25249 South Center Road in Frankfort.
At this fantastic fair, you'll enjoy a beer tent, chili cook-off, 5K race, beer and wine wasting, and free entertainment. It takes place each year in downtown Sullivan at 1-3 Jefferson Street.
If you’re as excited about autumn as we are, check out these eight state parks and how they look in the fall.
Which of these German festivals is closest to your hometown? Share your experiences and photos with us!
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