An overview of the festivals held in the State of Illinois at various times during the year.
Every state has festivals throughout the state at various times during the year, and Illinois is no exception. The state hosts a wide variety of festivals appealing to people with varied interests.
For someone who loves music, the Bluegrass Festivals, the Cornerstone Festival, the Southern Illinois Irish Festival, and On the Waterfront might be of particular interest. The Bluegrass Festivals are held at various times throughout the state, with the Northern Illinois Bluegrass Festival taking place in Naperville in April; the Three Sisters Park Bluegrass Festival in Chillicothe in June; the Princeville Day of Bluegrass in Princeville in June; the Prairieland Bluegrass Festival in Jacksonville in July; the Rockome Gardens Bluegrass Festival in Arcola in August; and the Greater Downstate Indoor Bluegrass Festival in Springfield in November. The Cornerstone Festival, held in late June to early July, features Christian and alternative music. The festival covers 500 acres in central Illinois, near Bushnell. The Southern Illinois Irish Festival is held each year in April, in Carbondale. It celebrates the music of the Celtic people, and features several performances held in coffeehouses and a local entertainment center. The festival also contains various displays, kids' activities, food, and sale items relevant to the Celtic theme. On the Waterfront is held in June in Rockford, in the northwestern part of the state, and features a variety of different types of music.
If nature is a passion for someone and conservation is a favorite cause, then they may want to check out the Eagle Days Festival. This festival is held in February in Havana, on the Illinois River. It features eagles in art, stories, and shows that star live birds of prey.
For those who are fans of history and want to see it come alive, Illinois offers the Bristol Renaissance Fair and the Jersey County Victorian Festival. The Bristol Renaissance Fair is held in northern Illinois, at the Illinois/Wisconsin border. It runs for nine weekends, starting in July and ending with Labor Day weekend. The "Renfair", as it is also called, features entertainment, merchants, food, and games. The entertainment includes minstrels, storytellers, falconers, and swordcraft, to name a few of the performances. The merchants sell a wide range of items including crafts, furnishing, glasswork, jewelry, musical instruments, costumes, books, toys, arms and armor. Food can be purchased at a variety of taverns and other vendors, and covers almost everything a person could imagine from the time period in question. The games include both adult's and children's activities, with the children's games included in the admission. Adult activities include archery, knife and ax throwing, whirl & twirl, and a petting zoo for all ages. The Jersey County Victorian Festival takes place in Jerseyville over Labor Day Weekend. This festival features Civil War re-enactments; tours of the nearby Fulkerson mansion; displays of steam engines, tractors, and agricultural products; and antiques, arts and crafts, and a flea market.
Those who like literature and storytelling may want to visit the Illinois Shakespeare Festival, the Illinois Storytelling Festival, or the Midwest Literary Festival. The Illinois Shakespeare Festival offers outdoor performances on the grounds of Ewing Manor in Bloomington, starting in June and ending in August. The Illinois Storytelling Festival, held in Spring Grove on the third weekend of September, is dedicated to keeping the art of storytelling alive. The Midwest Literary Festival is held in Aurora during September, and it features all types of writers. It is designed to promote reading and the appreciation of literature.
One popular event for those visiting Chicago is the Taste of Chicago. Fundamentally, it is a giant picnic on Lake Michigan. Several streets are shut down, and Grant Park is dedicated to this event for two weeks in June and July. Over 100 restaurants staff booths selling every type of cuisine imaginable, from ethnic food to Chicago-style pizza to ice cream and cheesecake. The event also features entertainment, with two or three stages showcasing various performers. As the event comes to an end, those attending can see the city's fireworks on the evening of July 3 and hear from the Chicago Symphony Orchestra.
While summer is a popular time for festivals, there are several during the fall, often focused on a "harvest" theme. One of these is the Morton Pumpkin Festival, held in Morton in September. Obviously, it showcases pumpkins, but the festival also offers carnival rides, races, food, a craft show, and a parade. October offers the Scarecrow Festival in St. Charles. This festival offers a scarecrow display and contest, music, entertainment, carnival rides, kid's activities, and an art & craft show. Yet another fall festival is the Illinois Wine & Art Festival, held in Carbondale in September. Over a dozen wineries bring their products for wine tasting, and between two and three dozen artists set up booths. Of course, the festival also features entertainment and food.
Illinois is a diverse state, with a variety of musical, cultural, and culinary fairs. Throughout the state and throughout the year, there are plenty of great events to enjoy!
