Top 9 Illinois Food Festivals Around the State

Chicago isn’t just one of the largest cities in the nation, it’s also one of the most innovative culinary destinations, too. But outside of the Windy City, the entire state of Illinois offers delicious eats and fun food-centered events. Check out nine of the best Illinois food festivals happening across the state.

Baconfest Chicago

Chicago

If your mouth starts watering at the smoky smell of crisping bacon, make sure to add this festival to your foodie bucket list. Baconfest Chicago draws thousands of bacon lovers from across the globe to sample cured meat concoctions developed by top Chicago-area chefs. The creative offerings include savory dishes like shrimp and grits topped with bacon; bacon gnocchi; bacon and sauerkraut pierogis; and sweets like bourbon-spiked cupcakes garnished with sugared bacon pieces and ice cream sandwiches stuffed with bacon-banana gelato and drizzled with bacon peanut butter fondue. Mark your calendars for this springtime festival in the Windy City!

Harvard Milk Days

Harvard

Celebrate all things dairy at the Harvard Milk Days, one of the longest-running hometown festivals in the state. Harvard, also known as the “Milk Center of the World,” dedicated the festival to those in the local dairy industry. Today, this down-home gathering, which dates back more than 75 years, has grown to include a full schedule of events drawing up to 30,000 dairy enthusiasts. The multi-day event takes place the first weekend in June and features the Milk Day Country Breakfast, a Milk Drinking Contest, carnival rides and concessions.

See more: What’s in Season? Illinois Produce Calendar

Long Grove Chocolate Fest

Long Grove

Like the thought of going on a scavenger hunt with a chocolate treasure? That’s the idea behind one of the many sweet activities that make up the three-day Long Grove Chocolate Fest held every year the third weekend in May. Vendors line the cobblestone streets as visitors indulge in chocolatey creations while enjoying the music. Sample chocolate bacon, chocolate barbecue sauce and chocolate-covered cheesecake as part of the festival’s Restaurant Row. Then visit the area merchants around town selling everything from chocolate popcorn to frozen hot chocolate, chocolate cotton candy and much more.

Mendota Sweet Corn Festival

Mendota

Crowds topping 60,000 eat 50 tons (yes, tons!) of sweet corn during the late summer Mendota Sweet Corn Festival. Part carnival mixed with a food extravaganza with ongoing concerts, this family-friendly weekend has been going on for more than 70 years. One signature activity of the festival is the Del Monte sweet corn boil on Sunday afternoon. It’s been made the same way for years: a vintage steam engine helps get the water boiling, then each ear goes into the hot bath before being served piping hot to hungry festivalgoers.

Morton Pumpkin Festival

Morton

For the ultimate fall food event, head to the “Pumpkin Capital of the World” for the Morton Pumpkin Festival. Started in 1967, this pumpkin-themed bash includes carnival rides, entertainment and over 30 special events and activities, including a pumpkin weigh-off and a pumpkin-decorating contest. At the Pumpkin Grill, take your pick from entrees like ribeye hoagies and pork chop sandwiches and squash-infused fare like pumpkin chili, pumpkin cornbread, pumpkin donuts, pumpkin cupcakes and, of course, pumpkin pie. Then head over to the Pumpkin Sweet Shop for even more goodies. You’ll find pumpkin chocolate chip cookies, pumpkin sundaes, pumpkin caramel shakes and more.

Murphysboro Apple Festival

Murphysboro

Each year on the second weekend after Labor Day, the town of Murphysboro transforms into an apple wonderland. The Murphysboro Apple Festival has grown over its 60-plus years to become one of the oldest and biggest festivals in southern Illinois.

The Appletime Grand Parade is a standout – but for food lovers, it’s all about the pie! Enter the apple pie eating contest to get your fill. There are also apple pie and apple butter contest to decide who’s baking up the best. Visit the Appletime Bakery at the event to fill up on apple favorites like apple danishes, apple coffee cake, apple strudel, apple cream cheese cinnamon rolls and other goodies.

Naperville’s Ribfest

Romeoville

The grills get fired up early and stay on late to serve up smoky ribs slathered with expertly crafted barbecue sauces at the Exchange Club of Naperville’s Ribfest. For more than 30 years, the festival has been offering some of the best ‘cue around. Beyond the barbecue ribs, attendees can also indulge in barbecued chicken, pulled pork and other favorites from the grill. Held in the late summer, the event pits rib grillers against each other as they compete for cash and prizes and the honor of becoming the winner of the Best Ribs, Best Sauce and Kid’s Choice categories.

Nauvoo Grape Festival

Nauvoo

Juicy, tart and sweet, grapes burst with the flavor of summer at the Nauvoo Grape Festival. For more than 80 years, the small town of Nauvoo has held this annual event to celebrate the humble fruit. The community comes out to Nauvoo State Park for the festival on Labor Day weekend. There’s plenty to do and see at the festival, including arts and crafts vendors, parades, flea markets, vintage cars, entertainment, and food, including fair favorites like funnel cake, kettle corn and other treats. Don’t miss the pancake breakfast on Sunday morning.

Taste of Chicago

Chicago

Visit one of the world’s largest food festivals at Taste of Chicago. At this summertime festival, food samples are offered in two different portion sizes: taste-size and full-size. And with over 80 different food vendors participating, you might want to stick to the taste-size portions before deciding on your favorite full-size dish. Don’t miss out on the demonstrations from top-rated chefs, which sometimes include a Mac and Cheese Smackdown.