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ILLINOIS:  January  -  February  -  March  -  April  -  May  -  June  -  July  -  August  -  September  - OCTOBER -  November/December

Check previous year if event is not yet updated to current year

2025 ILLINOIS - OCTOBER 2025
Local Food and Wine Festivals, Fairs and Shows
(see also: 2024  -  2023  -  2020  -  2019  -  2018  -  2017  -  2016)

October 28-30, 2025  EATS: The Equipment, Automation and Technology Show for the Food & Beverage
Chicago, Illinois
Process Expo is now officially titled EATS: The Equipment, Automation and Technology Show for the Food & Beverage.  Continuing to lead the industry in food technology, EATS will gather the world's most successful food and beverage processors, packaging professionals, and equipment manufacturers.  Attendance: 12,000.
 

2024 ILLINOIS - OCTOBER 2024
Local Food and Wine Festivals, Fairs and Shows
events waiting for new dates

October 4-6, 2024 - 14th Annual Great Highwood Pumpkin Festival
Highwood, Illinois
Events include a parade, music, 5k race and fun run, costume and carving competitions, and food vendors.  The Autism Society of Illinois and the City of Highwood are proud to announce the Annual Great Highwood Pumpkin Festival.  With the goal of bringing communities together, the Festival will help carve out hope, possibilities and options for the 52,000 individuals impacted by Autism in Illinois.

October 4-6, 2024  Lincoln Park Wine Festival - Chicago, Illinois
Fall’s cool breezes will celebrate the glorious grape when, for the sixth year, the annual wine happening that is Lincoln Park Wine Fest transforms tranquil Jonquil Park into an open-air market featuring wine and food pavilions. The highlight is ticketed wine tastings where scores of varietals will be showcased.
 

October 5-6, 2024 - 37th Annual Apple Fest
Lincoln Square,  Ravenswood, Illinois
Fall won't be complete without a family visit to the Lincoln Square Ravenswood Chamber of Commerce's Annual Apple Fest! Apple Fest is the perfect outdoor autumn outing, where vendors sell apples, apple cider, apple pies and every sort of apple treat and confection! Activities include Giddings Gourmet chef demos, live music on the Lawrence Avenue Music Stage, and lots of activities for children at the Leland Avenue Kids Zone. Admission: Suggested $5 donation.

October 5-6, 2024  45th Annual Harvest Daze - Watseka, Illinois
Iroqouis County Historical Society Old Courthouse Museum.  Food, entertainment, craft sales, car show, antique tractors show.

October 5-6, 2024  Annual Greater Taylorville Chamber of Commerce Chillifest - Taylorville, Illinois
The annual Greater Taylorville Chamber of Commerce Chillifest on the Taylorville square  promises 2 days of great food and entertainment.  The event, which is a fund-raiser for the Chamber, includes 2 days of International Chilli Society sanctioned judging, entertainment on both the south main stage, and for the 2nd year on the north stage.  Chilli and Pepsi products will again be sold by the Chamber in the tent on the southeast side of the Courthouse lawn.  Many other food, arts and crafts vendors will also offer their wares all around the square.  New this year is a “Kidzone” tent on the southwest side of the square with kid-friendly events both days.  (also: http://www.chillifest.info/ )

October 23-27, 2024  63rd Annual Sycamore Pumpkin Festival
Sycamore, Illinois
The Courthouse lawn is the center of activities, including thousands of decorated pumpkins on display, there are also art and craft shows, a house walk, a pie eating contest, a carnival, a fun fair, a race and other events.

October 26, 2024  Halloween Festival & Parade - Glen Ellyn, Illinois
A Spooktacular Event where an average of 2,500 happy children with their parents participate in the parade, go Trick-or-Treating at participating local businesses, enjoy festival entertainment & crafts.

October 26-27, 2024  Lake County Home Show - Grayslake, Illinois
Lake County Fairgrounds.  Free Admission & Free Parking!
 

2023 ILLINOIS - OCTOBER 2023
Local Food and Wine Festivals, Fairs and Shows
events waiting for new dates

October 14-15, 2023 - The Nourished Festival - Graylake, Illinois
In-Person and Online online gluten-free & specialty-diet festival!
 

2020 ILLINOIS - OCTOBER 2020
Local Food and Wine Festivals, Fairs and Shows
events waiting for new dates

October 18, 2020  James Beard Foundation's Taste America
Chicago, Illinois - A VIRTUAL DINING EVENT FOR 2020.
James Beard Foundation’s Taste America national epicurean tour, featuring one-night-only collaborative dinners.  Enjoy a unique, one-night only menu created by a Taste America All-Star joined by an elite team of notable local chefs. These exclusive dining events are perfect for the food enthusiast, as well as offering ideal entertaining opportunities for executives, clients, media, and VIPs.  See website for ticket prices and details for each city.

October 18-23, 2020  Lincoln Square Ravenswood Restaurant Week
Chicago, Illinois
Attention Food Lovers! Plan to dine your way through the Lincoln Square Ravenswood neighborhood during Restaurant Week! More than 20 participating restaurants will offer special promotions, limited-time prix-fixe menus, drink specials or free appetizers, making it easy for diners to try new foods and sample many unique cuisines.

October 23, 2020  Share Our Strength's Taste of the Nation
Chicago, Illinois
No Kid Hungry's culinary events highlight the nation's finest talent in the food and drink industry, all united under one cause: ending childhood hunger. Each year these events raise the critical funds needed to support No Kid Hungry's work to ensure that all children in America get the healthy food they need, every day.

2019 ILLINOIS - OCTOBER 2019
Local Food and Wine Festivals, Fairs and Shows
events waiting for new dates

October 3-27, 2019
THE GLOW: A Jack O' Lantern Experience
Chicago, Illinois
The city of brotherly love will be GLOWING this fall, right in the heart of historic West Fairmount Park. Jack monitors the trail traffic carefully so he only allows a certain amount of guests to enter at one time. There are a limited number of tickets for each slot and advanced tickets are required. Click on the calendar below to select your preferred day and time. Come GLOW with us!

October 6, 2019
20th Annual Friends of the Grape Wine Festival
Lincoln Square, Chicago, Illinois
The holidays are right around the corner and what better way to check out many different kinds of wine than at St. Matthias' Friends of the Grape! Friends of the Grape is celebrating their 20th year of grape stomping, wine tasting and fun for all.  Make sure to bring your appetites and dancing shoes as St. Matthias hosts this “mini-taste” of Lincoln Square. Those attending will be treated to appetizers, delights and wine pairings from 25 local restaurants as well as other “friends of the grape”. You will have an opportunity to sample and taste more than 30 different “lots” of wines. The festival will also feature a beer garden with live entertainment.

October 20, 2019 - Lincoln Avenue Beer Stroll - Chicago, Illnois
What could be better than sipping on delicious craft beer and strolling down Lincoln Avenue on a crisp October afternoon? Shopping and dining along the way! This ticketed event includes beer samples from local breweries paired with complimentary bites at popular shops along Lincoln Ave. This event features two routes with over 20 local businesses and restaurants participating and over 30 different types of craft beer to try on each route.  Each beer taster will receive a specially printed beer tasting glass and map guide listing each beer & business location.  Ticket Prices: Early bird pricing: $30, In-advance: $35, Day-of-event: $45.
 

2018 ILLINOIS - OCTOBER 2018
Local Food and Wine Festivals, Fairs and Shows
events waiting for new dates

October 23-24, 2018 - International Wine & Fine Food Expo
Chicago, Illinois
The International Wine & Fine Food Expo is the top industry event in the Midwest, connecting manufacturers with premier food and wine proprietors from throughout the US.

October 27-28, 2018 - CoffeeCon Chicago - Chicago, Illinois
CoffeeCon is the world’s first all-consumer coffee festival that features tasting the best coffees, hands-on trying the best brewing gear and onsite classes to improve your prowess as an at-home barista.

October 28, 2018 - Andersonville Sweet-Ish Stroll
Andersonville, Chicago, Illinois
Dessert Crawl returns as the Andersonville Sweetish Stroll on Sunday, October 28, 2018! Get to know the sweeter side of Andersonville at 20 different locations.
 

2017 ILLINOIS - OCTOBER 2017
Local Food and Wine Festivals, Fairs and Shows
events waiting for new dates

October 6-8, 2017 - Maize: The Heartland's Corn - Chicago, Illinois
Greater Midwest Foodways Alliance. Corn Symposium.
 

2016 ILLINOIS - OCTOBER 2016
Local Food and Wine Festivals, Fairs and Shows
events still waiting for new dates

October 15-16, 2016 - Morton Punkin Chuckin Contest - Morton, Illinois
THIS EVENT HAS BEEN DISCONTINUED.