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    German American Fest

    3.5 (24 reviews)
    ModerateGerman, Festivals

    German American Fest Photos

    GERMAN AMERICAN FEST ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Casual
    Very loud
    Outdoor seating
    Good for groups

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    a glass of beer on a table
    Jennifer J.

    I was wandering through the streets of Lincoln Square when I noticed a lot of men walking around in lederhosen. This could only mean one thing: an Oktoberfest was nearby. Three blocks later, I found myself here at the German-American festival. Wow, gotta love big cities! There was no cover charge to enter (a rarity where I'm from), so I breezed through the entrance and found the closest ticket booth. Everything inside is purchased via ticket, and you need to pre-buy at one of the booths. As if an homage to street festivals of yesteryear, this festival is CASH ONLY. Sorry, anyone-under-the-age-of-50, you better stop at the ATM on your way here. (Or use one of theirs and pay the high fees.) I bought $20 in tickets which bought me two pints of Munchen, a commemorative plastic stein, and a bratwurst. Not a bad deal where street festivals are concerned. Although, coming from the craft beer obsessed Pacific Northwest I would have happily paid more for a better selection of brews. The choices were limited to domestic (PBR) and imported (the aforementioned Munchen). Both pretty light for my tastes. I also grabbed a bratwurst, which was worrisomly barely warm, and spent an hour or so enjoying some people watching. There were a couple of music stages at the festival, but no actual live (or even piped in) music, unfortunately. Still, it was fun to stumble on a street festival on my mini vacay!

    Riding the fire engine in the Von Stueben parade. Seriously might be the best day of my life!!!
    Joanna T.

    This was my first time at German American Fest - my husband's band was marching in the Von Steuben parade (aka the Ferris Bueller parade) so his group chartered a bus down. It sounds like the fest attracts 40-50,000 people over a 3-day span so expect crowds, especially later in the day. Parade: 4.5 stars Okay, I'll admit that my perception is rather skewed because we just arrived in Chi and were asked if we wanted to ride on top of one of the vintage fire trucks in the parade. UMMMMM YES PLEASE! So I didn't get to see the parade but I did get to ride on a fire truck with a giant stein of beer in my hand and wave to all of the lovely spectators. It was pretty awesome, not going to lie. I will say that they could stand to condense the route though as the crowds in the middle were pretty sparse. If you are/have kids, make sure they bring bags as many floats toss candy. Fest: 3 stars As many other people have noted, there's not a huge amount of super "German" things here. Sure, you can get a (dry) pretzel, or some sausages. Beer is available in liters for $12 which isn't really that bad. Lots of "carnival" games and stuff you'd see at just about any State Fair though. On the plus side, lots of PortOJohns and as a bonus, they were pretty clean. The actual fest area gets super packed so it's not a bad idea to step out for some food from one of the many nearby eateries.

    Roberto F.

    So this was the 88th Annual German American Festival. I missed out on the Van Stuben Parade, but I did make it for the music and dancing. This fest could have scored more points if it offered more German style food and more German sweets. Gets a three for at least having good tasting brawts and sausage and tasty desserts from Edelweiss. Next Year I'll have to make it for the parade. If you missed out this, just look at the name of the fest and realize that it will be back again next year. Major Bonus Points for the Souvenir mug and the fact that the event was free. Just a side note... Best german fest I've ever been to is Wurstfest in New Braunfels, TX.

    Errol B.

    I have been going to this festival for years. The last several years it has started to become drinking amateur hour(s) for young people and yuppies that care nothing about German heritage. If you want to avoid this leave before the sun goes down. They only show up at night. The best day to go is the day that they hold the Von Steuben parade. Lots of old folks attend that day and many of them are very talkative and nice.

    Alex Z.

    This is the one Fest in Chicagoland I never miss and is by far my favorite. Lots of fun for families and people of all ages. I cannot wait to return.

    a crowd of people in a tent

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    I love this fest, I attend every year, lots of fun, liters of beer, sausage, polkas, good stuff.

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    Review Highlights - German American Fest

    The best day to go is the day that they hold the Von Steuben parade.

    Mentioned in 3 reviews

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    Fiesta del Sol - A super large tamale! This was at least 3-4 servings for $12.00.

    Fiesta del Sol

    4.3(12 reviews)
    8.1 miPilsen

    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.

    Photos
    Fiesta del Sol - I got one of the smaller sized decorative pom poms.

    I got one of the smaller sized decorative pom poms.

    Fiesta del Sol - The line for one of several Michelada tents.

    The line for one of several Michelada tents.

    Fiesta del Sol

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    Tacos Y Tamales Festival

    Tacos Y Tamales Festival

    3.2(13 reviews)
    7.7 miPilsen

    2025 Review! Same Fest, New Location! Tacos & Tamales Fest…read moreis now on Blue Island Ave between Wolcott & Ashland. Their new location is so much better to space out the crowd, offer better street parking/access to public transportation, and allows for more vendors! They had the similar mix of local businesses, corporate freebies, artist tents, and (3) music stages; but, I'm already looking forward to seeing how they continue to grow next year.

    I usually skip food festivals because I hate crowds, but this is one I'd been looking forward to…read morefor weeks. I don't eat good tamales very often and it was very convenient to have one location with all of the local venders so that I could try multiple restaurants at once. -Narrowing down which restaurant was my favorite to avoid future disappointments. Hands down, Yvolina's was my favorite. The chicharron tamale with green mole sauce was still in my mind when I woke up this morning. But sadly, I had to eat a grapefruit instead. ::sad face:: They run about $10 each, but are very large. I did also enjoy Yvolina's Chicken Tinga tamale, but the chicharron is the one I'd go back for. Didn't love the churros from Xurro, but I'm a pastry chef and make churros quite often. Maybe I just prefer my own. I ordered the churro s'more and wouldn't order again. It was all way too dry. Not enough chocolate either. There were many kinds of venders. If tamales aren't your thing, you aren't out of luck. With tacos, tortas, burritos, quesadillas etc.. sold up and down the streets, there's something for everybody. My only regret was not ordering the street corn that everyone seemed to me walking around eating. As much of a pain it was to be raining, it was the perfect time to go. The crowds were very minimal. It was still a lively bunch though. Many people dancing in the streets as the music blasted in the air. I very much enjoyed my evening and will definitely return next year. Parking is a bit of a beast. Prepare to have to park a bit far and walk.

    Photos
    Tacos Y Tamales Festival
    Tacos Y Tamales Festival
    Tacos Y Tamales Festival

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    Porky's Rib Fest

    Porky's Rib Fest

    4.0(2 reviews)
    15.2 mi

    Chicago is a summer of festivals and I love exploring each and every one. We saw a Groupon for…read morePorky's rib fest and decided to give it a shot! At $15 for two adult entrance tickets and free parking, it was pretty reasonable for festival pricing. As you do at a rib fest, we ordered a bunch of ribs from the following places: - Rasta Joe's: The best out of the bunch. The ribs were cooked perfectly and the sauce was great, with a hint of Caribbean flair. The portion size was also quite generous as we received 6(!) ribs for the 1:3 size that cost $10. This is what I expected a half slab to be. We were extremely happy with this! - Chicago BBQ: Decent. The ribs are quite fatty and fall or the bone. I would equate this to like Barnellis ribs. They're tender and BBQ-ey but nothing extraordinary. I would eat them again though. At $8 for 3 ribs, I'd go for Rasta's. - Texas Lightning: Ew. Ew. Ew. Complete regret for this one. So glad we got a sampler because I think I would have shed a tear if we bought a full slab. High expectations for the Texans but they failed to deliver. The ribs were extremely dry, flaky, and flavorless. It was like someone microwaved a slab of ribs and drizzled some sauce over it. The Jamaican Pork at Rasta's was pretty good too! Good spices. We would definitely give Rasta's an A++ for their ribs. The carnival itself looked fun but also very expensive. Overall, it was a decent event with live music and booze.

    Another long overdue review: It was my 2nd year in a row going here and I came back determined to…read moretry the ribs I remember liking so much last time! Me, my cousin, niece and nephew went here on a Thursday around 7pm. Chicago BBQ company: we tried their Beef brisket, Pulled pork, Cornbread and Half slab ribs(unfortunately it wasn't fall-off-the-bone like at Ribfest Chicago, beef brisket seems like pulled pork) Uncle Bob's: we tried 1/2 slab ribs, Pulled pork, Beef brisket, and Cornbread( didn't measure up to Chicago BBQ company) Howling coyote: we tried 1/2 slab rib dinner(they claimed their ribs are more tender than a mother's love! It was tender but Chicago BBQ had more flavor) Rasta joes: tried their 1/2 slab ribs and Jalapeno cheese cornbread (had flavor like Chicago BBQ but not as tender as howling coyote) Porky chicks BBQ: we tried the Big porky- had most meat and very tender and they gave generous portions, sauces were good too!

    Photos
    Porky's Rib Fest
    Porky's Rib Fest
    Porky's Rib Fest - Half slab ribs, Beef brisket, Pulled pork and Cornbread

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    Half slab ribs, Beef brisket, Pulled pork and Cornbread

    Pilsen Fest - Fest foods. August 2017

    Pilsen Fest

    3.3(3 reviews)
    7.7 miPilsen

    This fest has really went down. it used to be sooooo much fun! It was moved to 16th street (from…read more18th street), and turned from an expression of culture and the Pilsen neighborhood to just another fest selling things. It was much smaller than previous years with less food choices and fewer authentic vendors and had bad music, at least during the daytime when I went. I usually stay to hear the musical lineups but this was so boring I stayed long enough for the kids to get tacos and look at the 3 shops that were there. They even had some band singing sweet dreams singing the wrong words! I hope the fest will go back the way it was then I'd return. If not I'd say skip it.

    There are a ton of festivals that happen during the summer in the Chicagoland area and Pilsen Fest…read moreis one of them! I enjoyed listening to various types of performances from rock, DJing, to an amazing musical family band called Cielito Lindo. The band's age ranged from about 7 years old to the father's age, and they were amazing at harmonizing together. There is a lot of cultural aspects to this festival including Chinelos, a dance from one of the Mexican regions. It was so much fun to participate in! There are various businesses from Pilsen area that participate to sell food including Taqueria y Restaurant El Buen Valle, which had delicious tacos, and had tons of drink options like agua fresca and alcohol. It's only a few blocks long, so it's very contained and easy to get around. Would definitely come back next year.

    Photos
    Pilsen Fest
    Pilsen Fest - Squash Blossoms 2017

    Squash Blossoms 2017

    Pilsen Fest - August 2017

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    August 2017

    Buffalo Grove Days - New stage

    Buffalo Grove Days

    3.8(5 reviews)
    19.3 mi

    Another typical suburban festival -- carnival rides, mixed with music stages, and food tents, and…read moresometimes, business vendors. To be honest, I enjoy em, and this one, called Buffalo Grove Days, or what the cool kids call it -- "BG Days" is A-OK with me. I do like how this is well laid-out. There are shuttle buses to take/drop you to where you need to be. I didn't bother looking for parking and ended up parking at wherever the Buffalo Grove Days parking signs pointed to, which ended up being at the Buffalo Grove Metra station, which was free. I do have to say that the offering of carnival rides BG Days have, compared to the other copious amounts of suburban festivals, was less. It was actually hard to use up our 22-tickets (this year it was 22-tickets for $25) and I'm glad I didn't go with the unlimited rides for $25 each. The carnival games included pop-a-shot, lucky ducks, and other typical games. Food-wise, the food tent was actually pretty big. Lots to choose from, from pizza, to Mexican, to Dairy Queen. Food prices were A-OK and definitely not like the $40 for a piece of lettuce prices you'd find at the Taste of Chicago. BATHROOM REVIEW: The couple of port-a-potties we visited were actually pretty clean! Many to choose from and there was no line on the evening we went. Sit or squat? It's still a port-a-potty after all. Squat.

    Free to enter. There are various shuttles (bona-fide school busses!) to bus you from parking lots…read moreto the fairgrounds and back. Tip: Make sure to note whether your bus says COOK CO or LAKE CO on the side window so you can get back on the right bus route. Bring chairs or blankets for the parade (starts at 1). The north side of Lake Cook has craft fairs and food, while the south has rides and games (and a few food options - mostly cotton candy, elephant ears, corndogs). Ride tickets amount to about $1.25, and kiddie rides are typically 2-3 tickets. There are two sections of rides: the kiddie ones and adult. Food vendors included a lot of pizza (Nancy's, Wapaghettis...), Jersey Mike's, JD's BBQ, Culvers..also mac and cheese, chicken tenders, burritos, pretzels, etc from various other vendors. There's a covered picnic area to chill and take a break from the sun and heat, as well as a misting tent. Prices weren't TERRIBLE. My steak burrito was $7 and my custard sundae was $3. Pop cans are $1.50 and water is about $2.50. You can bring your own beverages, water, coolers, whatever (non-alc), too. There's an abundance of portra johns, and we even saw some being cleaned! Clean sh!tters?! Score!

    Photos
    Buffalo Grove Days - Obligatory ferries wheel shot

    Obligatory ferries wheel shot

    Buffalo Grove Days
    Buffalo Grove Days - Food tent

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    Food tent

    German American Fest - german - Updated June 2026

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