Interesting art and exhibition enjoyed the atmosphere and would go again. Looking forward to my…read morenext visit.

Always a fun event with music, entertainment, vendors with a variety of items, a few (pricey) but…read moresolid food vendors, and activities for kids; all along our beautiful Evanston lakefront. One year my daughter and I partook of the Zumba class, and they have various demonstrations as well. It's also refreshing to see all of the cultures and the diversity that comprises Evanston. We enjoy browsing for the jewelry, accessories and ethnic items, incense, shea butter, as well as scented oils, candles, and miscellaneous artwork! This is an annual event always in July, and it's usually super hot! If you're a people watcher, it's definitely a nice place to be. People come from all over, and I feel blessed to have grown up here and experienced this event year after year, right in my hometown.

You know how the Field Museum has Christmas trees from around the world during the holidays, you…read moresee ornaments from around the world and it stirs some curiosity and passion in you (as a child) to visit and see other countries. In a way, this festival of cultures can create the same type of thoughts for little ones as they visit the booths which represent different cultures and countries. I think that's pretty cool, to walk around and get some fresh air, learn about other people and let that inspire/prepare a kid for a trip abroad. Yes, have them put the iPad down and get out here and interact with someone outside of their bubble. There are some live performances/dancing on stage and good food like funnel cake and cheese fries in a bucket to feed your family members too. The parking lot was full when I came by but you can easily park in the neighborhood and walk in.

This is a truly great event, held over two days every year in May at Oakton Park, celebrating the…read morevast cultural diversity of Skokie. For the last several years my daughter's dance troupe has performed here. There's a variety of enjoyable entertainment, a good selection of food vendors, and some really nice tents manned by representatives of the many ethnic communities within the Village. We have practically everything; Slavic, German, Filipino, Jamaican, Bulgarian, Polish, Belizean, Pakistani, you name it!! (Our new slogan isn't "Skokie Welcomes Everyone" for no reason!) Some are providing information about their cultures while others have items for sale, in addition to a retail booth for various goods for sale. Village offices have booths providing useful information and resources to residents, and they also have a train ride and a variety of games and activities for children. Plus it's right beside the playground. General admission is free and weather permitting, it's really a fun day for the entire family -- worth a visit, whether or not you're from Skokie.

Edison Park Fest is a fantastic weekend neighborhood festival located in, well, Edison Park. If…read moreyou're not familiar with Edison Park, it's a neighborhood of Chicago north of Harlem Ave, on Northwest Highway, just south of Park Ridge. Edison Park fest spans several blocks and runs parallel to the Union Pacific Northwest Metra line. The festival totes two music stages, plenty of port o potties, several good vendors, a kids section, traveling carnival games,and several business vendor tents. There's pretty much something for everybody. Edison Park fest was well organized and spaced-out. I really had a good time walking around, sipping a beer, and perusing the many business tents. Metal barricades stops any temptation to trample on any residential front lawns running along this neighborhood festival, so make sure you get in on either Oliphant Ave or Ozark Ave. I had a really good time. So if you are in the north side and looking for a street festival without the crazy amount of crowds, definitely check out Edison Park fest.

Edison Park fest is a decent street festival located on the far North side of the city. The fest…read moreruns in mid August and always draws a healthy crowd. Edison Park is home to many police / first responders so you know it is going to be safe here. The crowd from here can get a little sketchy, but it is always a good time. The fest is between the Metra stop and Moretti's and spans a few city blocks. The food here is standard carnival fare. Nothing too great that I saw, but I enjoyed the fresh squeezed lemonade. They have vendors that serve up everything - most unhealthy, but delicious. Prices aren't too bad and the lines were pretty short when I went on a Saturday. There is a giant area of kids bouncy castles. These are pay as you go and is managed by an outside company. Some rides are good and take a few minutes, others are over in 30 seconds. They all cost $2-$3 each, so choose wisely if you don't splurge on the $30 day pass. There are several live music acts performing all weekend. It isn't my cup of tea, but people seem to like the 80s/90s rock cover bands. Rock on!

The Park Ridge Park District puts on an excellent October Fest the last Saturday of every…read moreSeptember. It is located in Hodges Park which is right in front of City Hall. The fest is free to enter, but there are charges for food, beer and kids activities. A wrist band for all the bouncy castles and kids games is only $5. There is plenty of parking in the neighborhood behind the event or you can try by the library. There is live music at night and plenty of activities during the day. There are a ton great food vendors including Holts, Harp and Fiddle and a few other places that serve German fare. The giant pretzels with dipping sauce were a hit and the beer list was extensive. Prices were pretty reasonable for a festival and the lines to get food/drinks were not bad at all. You could use credit cards for beer, but everything else was cash only. This is a great way to celebrate the beginning of fall and hang out in the park.

If they communicate better. When's the backup fireworks? I am unsure why they play guess the day…read more Better on Labor Day than Fourth of July.

Loved loved the carnival at Morton grove village it's a great place which comes only once a year at…read more4th of July had so many rides, food,fire works awesome kids had so much fun and even adults as can always ride with your kids

Still a great go-to event in the suburbs of Chicago. Definitely not as crowded as the Taste of…read moreChicago, with enough food vendors to try out and spend an hour or so on. Venue is setup with lots of space and shaded seating area near the Park Ridge Metra station. There is a large stage area with entertainment on the east-side of the venue. This place sells food by the ticket, so the layer of abstraction helps with not knowing you're paying $12 worth of tickets for two chicken skewers and rice. Most food items worth trying out are around 8 to 12 tickets, with prices, as of 2023, being $10 for a strip of 8 tickets. No surcharge for cash, but if you only have plastic, they do apply a surcharge. In either case, still better than $30 for a piece of lettuce at the Taste of Chicago, wading through a large crowd, while hoping to not have your food bumped out of your hand from an unaware crowd. BATHROOM REVIEW: Plenty of port-a-potties, with mine being pleasant and clean. Not a lot of use so far when I went around 2PM on a Saturday afternoon. We'll see, as the festival goes on with drunks destroying the bathroom. But for now, sit or squat? Squat... it's still a port-a-potty.

The food was great and I enjoyed the atmosphere as it was very safe and relaxing. I will be back…read morenext year.

I love the quaintness of Lincoln square. I find myself hanging out here more often lately. They…read morehave such a great array of shops and festivals. The German American festival is one of them. There's plenty of regular festival vendors, local restaurants and pubs and lots of carnival games. You'll get to see lots of culture attire like people decked out in traditional lederhosen but the Oktoberfest tents are the biggest attraction long tables, beer and food. Although I don't really drink these days but there is something about sitting out enjoying a good drink and food just meeting random people.

We happened upon this festival. Not that impressed. A beer tent, some cheap carnival games, one…read morefood tent, and one small stage with a band. We ended up leaving and going to a restaurant.

Well Lincoln Square …read more.. .... You've done it again, you've found a way to turn something completely mundane sounding and off of my party radar and make it an incredible event!!! I wont lie, I wont pretend like i knew what May Fest was before I visited it, and I sure as syrup am not going to sit here and tell you I know anything about Craft Fairs ... But low and behold out of no where comes the Christkindl Market and my views of niche-y little craft tents has changed. If you're aware of the L.S. May Fest or their ever Popular Oktoberfest Celebrations than you can basically figure out the idea and location of theChristKindl Market. Its a Giant white Tent located in the Parking lot next to the brown line. Inside it was nice and cozy warm, there were several tables set up, and little Tents selling cutesy Christmas trinkets, candles, and holiday what-nots .... as you can tell I had no interest in what was there ... In fact I really had NO intentions of going. You see I don't care much for Craft fairs ... But this place is different, There's BEER!! and Glogg!! and if you don't know what Glogg is than you need to get your Grinchy head out of your Holiday Rear and Get you Glogg on! Even if its just to try it! Goose Island Sponsors it, and well Frankly I enjoy Knocking back those Tall boys of Christmans Ale! Thats right 22oz of pure Elfy Ale Goodness! Yum! Also they serve that lovely Lincoln Square German food we all have come to love from their May/Oktober Fests!! Pretzels and Beer! Pretzels and Beer!! Hoooray! and who doesn't love large Brats or Toasted nuts .... (stop giggling) The have a bunch of tables set up and a stage for live music! Its a perfect time for you and group of Friends or family to gather, get out, and get that Holiday Spirit kicked in right! My only gripes are as follows .... there was some High School Rock band, who despite being rather good and bluesy, I couldn't help but feel like they just didn't fit the billing i would've expected, but I left before I saw any another groups play ... Also, its a ticket event, as in you pay to get tickets and well ... I seem to always spend way more than I should. But other than that You should Definitely Keep an eye out for it just as you would any other Lincoln Square Fest val

To call this "festival" a Christkindl Market" is fraud in my mind…read more It was just another "drink fest" and to charge $3 was highway robbery. Where were the christmas ornaments? Why didn't the kids from the schools make homemade ornaments/decorations to sell and make money for the schools? What is it with thinking that people want to spend money on costume jewelry?? Shame shame shame