Was another fest that had some become fallen to the victim of substantial cutbacks…read more With the absence of many antique dealers taking part, bargains,etc. Plus one/two blocks shorter of the fest length. But nevertheless can still be a pretty fun fest. Despite some recent woes.

This is a bygone era. There are so few Czech left in the area. The parade started over an hour late…read moreand was disappointing. No Czech food to be found. There was a small food court set up by 6 1st court but it was all Mexican food.

This is one of my favorite summer festival to come and enjoy with my family. Great Food,…read moreEntertainment and Good Vibes. I have been coming here for many years and the vibes have always been good. The food prices are very reasonable. Food & Drinks range from $3.00 to maybe $6.00 if that much. Very inexpensive and budget friendly. This festival is a place for you to try different authentic foods, music and good vibes. You can shop the vendors tents and find some cool things to purchase. There are several stages where you can enjoy a live concert. There is a carnival with a few rides for the kids to stay entertained. I always look forward to coming here year. Taste of Melrose Park is always around the first week in September.

A bunch of us checked out the Taste of Melrose Park during Labor Day weekend. This is a food fest…read morewith free admission. Amazingly every food item was priced at $3 or less. It was fun to try all sorts of tasty foods. Many of them were Italian bites but there were other Mexican-style foods as well. We enjoyed items such as Italian beef, arancini, flat "fried meatball" sandwich, a "salad sandwich" that was quite good because of the fresh bread, cheese fries, cannoli, root beer float, slushie and a lovely serving of sfingi (freshly made "donut holes" made by nuns, how can you top that?). There are fair faves such as promotional freebies, carnival rides, a guy on stilts, and a clown pushing a mini-clown in a stroller (wha wha??). There is some entertainment as well (we heard bagpipers after someone belted out the Star Spangled Banner). This was sort of a folksy food fest, and the price was right. If you are looking for something fun to do next Labor Day weekend in the 'burbs, keep Taste of Melrose Park in mind.

I really enjoyed the Day hanging on the lake with my family and friends. The environment was joyful…read moreand peaceful. I felt safe and was able to relax and just enjoy the music, the entertainment, the food and all the beautiful people that were out there just having a wonderful time. It was nice to see friends that I haven't seen in many years..... it was a really good choice hosting the event on the lake. I look forward to going again next year.

This is a yearly event every September on Ogden Ave which is also Route 66. Participants show off a…read morewide variety of cars from rusty old pick-ups to original 57 Chevy's to low riders. If you like cars, it's definitely worth the trip at least once. There were some awesome rides!

The last time we visited Chicago a few years ago, we attended and really liked the Tacos y Tamales…read morefestival. This year we found we'd missed that event, but Fiesta del Sol, supposedly the largest Latin festival of its kind in the USA, would be happening during our trip instead, and both of those events take place in the exact same area of the Pilsen neighborhood. We took an Uber here on Saturday afternoon to check it out, eat some authentic Mexican food and enjoy the music and folkloric performances. This festival features streets lined with vendors selling food and merchandise, they had 2 performance stages with live bands, a grassy area with a DJ spinning, and a 2 block-long section that was set up like a carnival midway with games of chance, thrill rides and amusements. Visiting Fiesta del Sol was a good way to spend a few hours, enjoy some good food and entertainment and best of all, admission was completely free. Do know that the food at some booths is better quality than others and if I were to attend this festival again, I'd walk around and look at everything before deciding where and what to eat. Some vendors, for instance, were cooking their meat and preparing items fresh, including one stand that was grilling steak and turkey legs over an open wood fire, while others had pre-cooked everything and were taking items out of a cooler and reheating them as customers ordered - and to us, the pre-cooked options lacked flavor. Another thing to note is that Fiesta del Sol was a "dry" event with no alcohol sales. Even booths selling things like pina coladas and micheladas were selling non-alcohol versions. That's not necessarily a bad thing, but those planning to have a cold beer while enjoying the music on a hot summer day or to come and party it up with a few drinks, won't be able to do that here.

I rarely get opportunities to go to festivals in the summertime due to my busy schedule but this…read moreyear I've managed to go to two; Fiesta del Sol being one of them. It's a big event that has gone on for over 50 years. The vendor list is extensive with blocks upon blocks of rides, sponsors, food tents and games. There were a few craft vendors although I would've liked to have seen more craft tents like textiles and ceramics. I was able to catch a few dance performances while eating what I purchased at the tents on the lawn. Pricing for food items varies. Some tents had good deals on stuff, others not so much. For instance, I got a large tamale for $12 that was at least 3-4 servings which I felt was good value. Other tents simply price gouged. I paid $10 for a melon agua fresca that although was on the large side didn't really feel like it was worth the $10. Also, a single quesabirria which appeared to be 4 inches in length cost me $5 each. Tasty but pricey. I also learned that this is a non-alcohol event so if you were expecting booze here, you may get disappointed. My friend was hoping to buy a michelada but was bummed because the entire event was dry. I'm guessing it's because A: this is a family type of event and/or B: They didn't get a liquor license for this festival. Overall, I liked the vibe and the energy. It was packed so expect to bump elbows with folks. I went on a Sunday and I knew parking was going to be difficult but we managed to find street parking about 4 blocks away. Pro tips: *If you want to save on parking (because parking is free in the city on Sunday), go Sunday versus the rest of the week. * Also, pack wet wipes. It helps clean your hands free of food residue afterwards. *Performances are in the park so bring a blanket or a carry on collapsible folding chair. *It's summer so stay cool and stay hydrated. *Don't forget to bring your sun shades.

I love this event!! We've lived in Oak Park just over 20 years and we still learn about so many…read moregreat community organizations and make new connections every year. I've only missed Day in our Village a few times! There are representatives from schools, churches, health & wellness places, political organizations, every kind of non-profit you can imagine, and a few local shops but mostly non-profits. If you are looking to find a place to volunteer, this is a great opportunity to go booth to booth and learn about everything this amazing village has to offer! Booths give out free things. There are also food vendors and live music! It does get very crowded, so get there early! Bring sunscreen, a bag to collect all the hand-outs, and a water bottle.

A Day In Our Village is an annual fair that takes place (these days) in Scoville Park (at the…read morecorner of Oak Park Avenue and Lake Street). There's about a hundred booths featuring local companies and organizations. There's a series of musicians throughout the day. The whole thing is a nice way to learn about local stuff. A lot of the companies and organizations have brochures, give aways, and small activities (massages, bubbles, solar ovens, and the like). It's a bit crowded and can be overwhelming.