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No doubt that 2019 was “Lit AF,” 2020 had to be put on pause and 2021 brushed off the dust. Many festivals are ready to make the 2022 season a rip-roaring good time.
Someone may ask what makes summer festivals in Lake County so good? Simple: it’s an amazing community that is serious when needed. But, just as easily knows how to have fun.
Because we here at Visit Lake County also love food trucks and farmer's markets, we went ahead and added those in, too!
Keep reading through our summer festival season guide to see what the Land of Lakes has to offer.
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Ravinia Festival is the oldest-running outdoor festival in the United States, having been established in 1904. Ravinia Festival attracts about 600,000 guests each year and plays host to over 120 performances & events. This year is no different with acts such as Sheryl Crow, Little Big Town, Pitbull, Sting, Diana Ross, Stevie Nicks, Erykah Badu and The Chicago Symphony Orchestra residency.
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The Bitter Jester Music Festival (BJMF) showcases upcoming young talent from the Chicagoland and Midwest regions. BJMF kicked off its 16th installment of the showcase on May 20. High school and college-aged student musicians took the Highland Park stage. Emerging performers from 40 cities and eight states present their unique music for prizes and the title of "Grand Champion." The concert series kicked off at Madame Zuzu’s in Highland Park, and the remainder of the performances will be showcased at Port Clinton Square. Musicians have a chance to win the grand prize that includes award money and a live performance at Navy Pier in Chicago. The grand finale and winner announcement will take place July Fourth at the Lake County city’s Independence Day celebration.
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Calling all foodies: the monthly food truck series has returned to the Deer Park Town Center. Food trucks will be located in the road in front of Pottery Barn and Kendra Scott up to the traffic circle. Food trucks are subject to change without notice. The event is presented by The Luby Group.
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MainStreet Libertyville invites one and all to their monthly celebration of First Fridays. The Lake County downtown area, free admission event is highlighted by various delectable drinks, mouth-watering eats, live entertainment and more while you peruse the Lake County local mom-and-pop shops offering promotional sales and deals.
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Flourish: The Garden at 50 will feature a series of Garden-wide experiences. Ten nature-inspired art installations from Chicago, national and international artists have been created specifically for the Glencoe campus and Windy City Harvest’s Farm in Ogden, connecting people with nature in new ways. Splashes of gold-hued plants have been incorporated into the seasonal designs of the display gardens. Attendees will be invited to engage with interactive stories taking them back in time and transporting them to an imagined future for the Garden and pop-up events that will surprise and delight.
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For nine glorious weekends starting in July, each Saturday and Sunday, plus Labor Day Monday, visitors take a rollicking romp through Elizabethan England, complete with 16th Century games, rides, arts, crafts, food, music and one-of-a-kind encounters with a spectacular cast of characters. The Faire boasts a beautiful 30-acre site with open-air stages featuring swordfighters, minstrels and jesters. All entertainment is included in the price of admission. It may be in Wisconsin, but is worth a visit.
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Visit Park Avenue between Jewett Park Drive and Hazel Avenue in Deerfield every Saturday between 7 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. The market starts Saturday, June 15.
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Visit Center Street every Wednesday in Grayslake between 3-7 p.m. The market starts Wednesday, June 8.
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Visit South Rand Rd. every Friday in Lake Zurich between 3-7 p.m. Market starts Friday, June 3.
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Visit Grayslake for their Annual Arts Festival and Wine Tasting event as they kick off their summer events. The art portion takes place 10 a.m. - 4 p.m. The wine tasting begins at noon-3 p.m. Attendees will be able to take in a variety of fine art from local artists and sip wines from a variety of producers.
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Wild Onion Brewery in Lake Barrington has a ton to celebrate about. And they want to invite the public that has made the venture possible by having a party. Join the Lake County Libation Trail partner for a two-day party in June with great music by Pat McKillen and Bourbon Aristocracy. They will be tapping celebratory beers including one made with 25 different hops.
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The event will kick off with a parade down Grand Avenue at 4 p.m. There will be live music at Lakefront Park that will start at 5 p.m. At dusk, fireworks will be displayed over Nippersink Lake.
The July Fourth celebration begins Sunday night in Brickyards Park with food, fireworks, family and fun. Start your Monday morning with the Deerfield Family Days 10K Race/5K Walk, complemented by a pancake breakfast. The Independence Day festivities continue with the custom and bike parade, an endless array of food, arts and crafts, rides, a petting zoo and other activities at Jewett Park
The festival has something for everyone. Carnival, fireworks, parade, food, music, games, contests, demonstrations, displays and lots of kids activities just scratch the surface of the celebration.
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The festival has live entertainment, food, a beer tent, carnival games and a classic car show. The patriotic event is highlighted by the famous Pancake Feast, a 5K run, the Fourth of July parade, the Cardboard Boat Regatta, live music, food, zip-lining, pony rides and a fireworks extravaganza.
The Round Lake Area Park District provides fireworks during the Fourth of July weekend. The fireworks will launch at dusk on Sunday, July 3, near the Round Lake Beach Cultural and Civic Center. Prior to the fireworks, there will be food, beer and mixed drinks available for an extra fee at the RLBCCC festival. There will be a petting zoo and bands playing throughout the day.
Witness automobiles from different decades of American history when you visit Genesee and Water Streets in downtown Waukegan. There will be live music, street food vendors and a giant car show all in one. The festival will be held on Friday and Saturday. The Waukegan Days Carnival will have rides and attractions for an additional price.
The City of Progress is hosting the inaugural Third Coast Surf Fest (alongside Scoop), named for the Midwest Great Lakes Region. This Lake Michigan-side party celebrates tunes from the 1950s and 60s and encourages audiences to "hang ten." The Waukegan Harbor & Marina event features live surfing music, a vintage car show, boat show, tiki market and bar, food trucks and more activities. Tickets cost $25 for entry.
Get ready for Dog Days of Summer featuring Dock Dogs Canine Aquatic Competition for all pups. Canines from the pro-level down to the amateurs are welcome to jump and dive. Local rescues will be at the competition for those looking to add the newest furry family members to their packs. All proceeds after expenses go to local pet rescues and local food pantries.
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Visit Vernon Hills for four days of food, fun, carnival rides, free entertainment and a huge beer tent. There will also be children's activities, a petting zoo, car show, fireworks and live bands. You can sign up for the bags tournament or the ever-popular "Cream" a Cop Fundraiser.
Visit downtown Antioch and experience the Lake County village's summer marquee party highlighted by live music, a carnival full of attractions, sidewalk sales and a patriotic musical light show.
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ArtWauk is the monthly celebration of all arts in downtown Waukegan. Each month is a unique experience as the art exhibits, musicians and featured performances vary from one month to the next. Come downtown, grab dinner and enjoy the tactical application of the arts.
An outdoor party that will combine traditions and new features for the whole family. Watch bands, take part in activities, do some improv, eat local food and more on the Carmel Catholic High School campus. The celebration is free, but the activities, food and beverages are separate costs.
What began in the summer of 1942 has today transformed into what we know as Alpine Fest. It opens Friday night with The Fire Fighters Water Fights. There are three days of carnival rides, games, food, family events and entertainment. The final day of the festival includes the Alpine Fest Parade down Main Street.
The nationally-renowned "Intelligentsia Cup" will be returning to downtown Mundelein for a full day of amateur and professional bicycle racing. There will be 10 races in different rider categories ranging from juniors to professionals in both men's and women's categories. Besides the speedy cyclists, the village has a jam-packed lineup for the peanut gallery including a beer garden, children's games, a community ride, live music, activities and more.
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One of summer's highlights here in Lake County, the fair is entering its 93rd year. See the prize-winning livestock, champion horses, dairy goats, pies and vegetables. Today’s visitors experience the county’s agricultural and horticultural heritage alongside modern attractions such as live music, motocross, funnel cakes, beer gardens, carnival rides and much more. The Lake County Fair and its strong sense of community is something not always common in today’s fast-paced world.
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Stroll around downtown Libertyville sampling generous, tasting size portions of delectable desserts at the participating Main Street businesses. Starting in Cook Park at the MainStreet Libertyville tent, there is light walking involved in three blocks of downtown Libertyville. Check out the booths at David Adler Music & Arts Center’s Annual Festival of the Arts, also in Cook Park, before or after enjoying the Dessert Walk.
Venetian Night returns to North Point Marina with a "Mardi Gras" themed party including a lighted boat parade, live music, New Orleans-themed food and drinks, activities for all ages and there can't be a party without fireworks. A lighted boat parade at dusk and fireworks will end the night. Featured music includes The Porch Tour featuring Nick Norman and special guest Lewis Brice.
This fest is highlighted by a car show, various food vendors on the grounds, a choice of fun runs and walks, a community art show and you can volunteer to march in the parade.
This two-day street market is for all things vintage, antique, reclaimed, repurposed, upcycled and handmade. Located in the heart of downtown Long Grove, the antique-sheen event is free to attend. There will be live music, classic antique vendors and more within the historic downtown setting.
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The Adler Arts Center and the GLMV Chamber of Commerce proudly present, The 41st annual Festival of the Arts. The festival is a two-day juried art that features exceptional creations from artists across the country. Witness the creative artwork from some of the century-old facility's youngsters at Cook Park located in historic downtown Libertyville.
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Visit the Lakefront Park Building and take part in the fish fry. There will be food, music and other fun events. More details will be posted closer to the event.
Visit the Village of Fox Lake to take part in and watch the Youth Fishing Derby. Anglers of various age groups will cast lines and catch fish.
The Vernon Hills Park District is cooking up a mix of blues, brews and BBQ for their 11th annual Little Bear Ribfest. Bring your lawn chairs and enjoy the evening listening to award-winning blues musicians. Numerous local rib vendors will be on-site barbecuing their specialties. There will be plenty of adult beverages including beer, wine and seltzer available for an extra fee.
Visit the northern Lake County villagelargest festival of the year, Grayslake Summer Days! Stay tuned for a full schedule of events, bands and the parade. The theme of this year's event is Beach Party.
ArtWauk is the monthly celebration of all arts in downtown Waukegan. Each month is a unique experience as the art exhibits, musicians and featured performances vary from one month to the next. Come downtown, grab dinner and enjoy the tactical application of the arts.
Celebrate the start of summer with the Waukegan Park District at the annual Ray Bradbury’s Dandelion Wine Fine Arts Festival. This free family art and music festival will be held on Saturday, August 20 at Bowen Park located at 1800 N. Sheridan Rd. in Waukegan. All the performances are free to view. Family activities including a creative art project are free. The event, first starting in 1999, features artists, live entertainment on three outdoor stages, family activities and honors one of Waukegan’s favorite sons, author Ray Bradbury.
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Visit Shiloh Park in Zion for the annual Potawatomi Trails Pow Wow. This unique event is one of a kind area as the northern Lake County city celebrates Native American heritage. Its purpose is not only to celebrate this heritage but also to heighten public awareness of Native American history, traditions and customs. Specific activities will include demonstrations, music and dance presentations, educational sessions and a trader area. There will be storytelling and native exhibit porcupine quillwork demos, raffles and vendors selling craft and art auctions throughout the day.
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All eyes will be smiling over Labor Day weekend for this three-day family-friendly celebration of Irish culture, music, merchants, food and drink. Visitors are invited to stroll the town’s cobblestone walkways and enjoy bagpipers, folk bands and Irish dancers in addition to other entertainment like the popular Irish Dog Competition and the Men’s Kilt Contest.
For more information on the summer festival season, click here. To find your own adventure in the Land of Lakes, continue here.
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