Fall is coming, and it’s time to celebrate pumpkin season. For as much as I love summer in Chicago, there’s something so perfect about our fall weather.
Our roundup of fall festivals and Oktoberfests is packed with hayrides, petting zoos, and live music, as well as apples, pretzels, and all your favorite pumpkin-flavored foods. Grab your favorite sweatshirt and enjoy a beautiful fall day at these fall festivals and Oktoberfests.
This guide is sponsored by Printers Row Lit Fest, St. Cletus Parish, Downtown Downers Grove, Western Springs Park District, Downtown Oak Park Business Alliance, and The Forge: Lemont Quarries.
St. Cletus Annual Fall Fest in La Grange
Thursday, September 10, 2026 | 5-10pm
Friday, September 11, 2026 | 5-10pm
Saturday, September 12, 2026 | 12-10pm
Sunday, September 13, 2026 | 12-9pm
The 10TH ANNUAL St. Cletus Parish Fall Fest community tradition kicks off on September 10th and runs for four fun-filled days with food, live music, and a carnival. Perfect for families, friends, and festival-goers of all ages!
41st Annual Printers Row Lit Fest
Bring the whole family to the 41st Annual Printers Row Lit Fest, the Midwest's largest free outdoor literary festival, September 12–13, 10 a.m.–6 p.m., in Chicago's Printers Row neighborhood.
Parents can enjoy legendary author Scott Turow, PBS NewsHour co-anchor Geoff Bennett, eight Pulitzer Prize winners—including four journalists from the Chicago Tribune—and bestselling, nationally and locally acclaimed authors.
Kids will delight in the Storytime Parade, live storytelling, interactive story times, Broadway Dropouts theater performances, and Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle reading Dr. Seuss's Horton Hatches the Egg. Young readers can discover authors Leslé Honoré (My Brown Boy), Homer Hans Bryant (The Rap on Girls in Ballet), Julian Randall (Shook), and Veronica Arreola (J Is for Justice).
With dozens of author programs, book signings, new, used and rare booksellers, and activities, Printers Row Lit Fest invites families to enjoy a weekend of stories, creativity, imagination, and reading.
49th Annual Fine Arts Festival in Downtown Downers Grove
Join us September 12-13, 2026, from 10am-5pm, for the 49th Annual Fine Arts Festival on Main Street in historic Downtown Downers Grove!
Stroll Main Street and explore juried artists showcasing work in a variety of mediums, including painting, photography, jewelry, ceramics, glass, fiber, mixed media, wood, sculpture, and more.
Admission is free, and all are welcome!
While enjoying the festival, listen to live music throughout the weekend, shop our unique downtown retailers, dine at local restaurants, and let the kids get creative with a free children’s art activity. There’s something for everyone to enjoy!
For the complete artist lineup, live music schedule, and festival details, visit www.downtowndg.org.
We can’t wait to welcome you to Downtown Downers Grove for a weekend celebrating art, creativity, community, and local charm!
Harvest Fest at Spring Rock Park
Harvest Fest is Western Springs' signature fall celebration, hosted by WS Parks. Spend the day in the park with live music all day long, featuring headliner band Mike & Joe, plus a carnival with rides and games for all ages, and the D101 3K Run for the whole family to run, walk, or cheer.
Enjoy food and treats from local vendors, and keep the kids entertained with face painters, balloon artists, a magician, jugglers, a bubble experience, and a Chicago White Sox baseball clinic.
As the sun sets, stick around for a spectacular fireworks display to cap off the night. Whether you come for the music, the activities, or just to spend time with neighbors, Harvest Fest brings the whole community together for a day of fall fun the entire family will enjoy.
Oaktoberfest is Back: Root Beer Floats, Zucchini Races, and Fall Fun in Oak Park
Downtown Oak Park Celebrates 34th Annual Oaktoberfest on September 25 & 26
The two-day festival celebrates the fall season with great music, craft beer, and food.
Don’t miss the Kids Root Beer Garden: Open Saturday, September 26, from 12:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. It features family favorites such as zucchini races, root beer floats, a balloon artist, and an obstacle course. A second stage will feature performances sponsored by the Oak Park Area Arts Council, alongside other family-friendly activities sponsored by local organizations. For more information, please visit oaktoberfest.net.
Enchanted Adventure at The Forge: Lemont Quarries
This fall, The Forge: Lemont Quarries invites guests to experience Enchanted Adventure: An Evening of Pumpkin Monsters, Magic, and Mischief, running September 25 through November 1, Thursday through Sunday nights. The family-friendly experience features a ½-mile illuminated walking trail filled with thousands of intricately designed pumpkins across three themed worlds: Monsters, Magic, and Mischief.
In Monsters, encounter a 16-foot pumpkin Kraken, towering Troll, Zombie Graveyard, and Web Crawler spider. Magic brings witches, a bubbling cauldron, whimsical mushrooms, and Pumpkin Stonehenge. Mischief delivers playful pumpkin scenes, including a Pumpkin Catapult Crew, Pie Machine Chase, and tricksters causing chaos for Dracula.
Guests can also enjoy seasonal food and beverages, including festive fall drinks and food. Kids Activity Add-Ons, sold separately from trail admission, include the Creepy Crawly Kid Zone and Boos Bounces, where kids can climb, bounce, and play.
It’s a glowing evening of pumpkins, imagination, and fall fun for all!
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Fall Festivals and Oktoberfests in the Western Suburbs
Fall Festivals and Oktoberfests in the Northwest Suburbs
Looking for more fall fun? Check out our list of pumpkin patches that have activities running all autumn long.
Looking for more fall fun? Head over to our Guide to Fall Activities for Kids!
4 Comments. Leave new
I love yalls ideas there so great and fun.
Thank you for all this great info on fun things to do!!
You have Westmonts Last Straw event on there but their Wicked West Fest on October 19th also includes a costume contest, trick or treating and casket races for kiddos.
https://westmontevents.com/wicked-west-fest
Thanks for pointing those out! Since they involve costumes and trick-or-treating, we’ve included them on our Halloween events list: https://mykidlist.com/family-friendly-halloween-events/