Festivals in Chicago

Check out happening festivals events all around Chicago, IL

Winter WonderFest 2025 - Navy Pier

 Fri, 05 Dec at 10:00 am Navy Pier

Joffrey Ballet -The Nutcracker at Lyric Opera House

 Sat, 06 Dec at 02:00 pm Lyric Opera House

Joffrey Ballet - The Nutcracker at Lyric Opera House

 Fri, 05 Dec at 07:00 pm Lyric Opera House

Cirque Du Soleil Twas The Night Before at Chicago Theatre

 Thu, 11 Dec Chicago Theatre

2026 Chicago Beer Fest

 Sat, 28 Feb at 07:00 pm The Field Museum USD 75 to 92

First Bites Bash 2026

 Thu, 22 Jan at 06:00 pm Field Museum USD 130 to 167

New Year's Eve Sunset Cocktail Cruise on Wednesday, December 31st

 Wed, 31 Dec at 04:30 pm Anita Dee II TEMPORARILY LOCATED at BURNHAM HARBOR (See directions below) USD 27 to 42

ZooLights Presented by Invesco QQQ and ComEd

 Mon, 22 Dec at 04:30 pm Lincoln Park Zoo

Cirque Du Soleil - Twas The Night Before

 Tue, 23 Dec at 06:00 pm The Chicago Theatre

All Inclusive New Year's Eve 2026 Fireworks Cruise aboard Anita Dee II

 Wed, 31 Dec at 09:45 pm Anita Dee II TEMPORARILY LOCATED at BURNHAM HARBOR (See directions below) USD 113 to 217

Renegade Chicago

 Sat, 20 Dec at 11:00 am Morgan Manufacturing

BPSO XXVII: The 27th Annual Brewpub Shootout

 Sat, 31 Jan at 01:00 pm Half Acre Beer Co USD 93

2026 Chicago Winter Tequila Tasting Festival (February 14)

 Sat, 14 Feb at 02:30 pm Downtown Chicago USD 0 to 440

The Effigies / The Bollweevils / The Evictions

 Sat, 21 Feb at 06:30 pm Cobra Lounge

Chicago, IL: David Nihill at The Den Theatre

Fri, 13 Feb at 07:15 pm The Den Theatre

2026 Chicago Winter Whiskey Tasting Festival (January 24) AE

 Sat, 24 Jan at 02:30 pm King's USD 20 to 89

VALENTINO KHAN at Sound-Bar

 Sat, 24 Jan at 10:00 pm 226 W Ontario St, Chicago, IL

Karl Denson's Tiny Universe

 Wed, 31 Dec at 09:00 pm Garcia's Chicago

2026 Chicago Winter Whiskey Tasting Festival (January 24)

 Sat, 24 Jan at 02:30 pm Downtown Chicago USD 0 to 440

Don Was and the Pan-Detroit Ensemble

 Sun, 25 Jan at 08:00 pm Garcia's Chicago

Cristela Alonzo: The Midlife Mixtape Tour

 Sat, 31 Jan at 07:30 pm The Vic Theatre

Taste of Ravenswood

 Fri, 06 Feb at 07:30 pm Ravenswood Event Center USD 98 to 1,069

2026 Chicago Winter Tequila Tasting Festival (February 14) AE

 Sat, 14 Feb at 02:30 pm Kings Dining & Entertainment USD 20 to 89

Raks Inferno: A Valentine Speakeasy

 Fri, 13 Feb at 07:00 pm The Newport Theater USD 33 to 43

Chicago's BYOB Party Bus Holiday Light's Tour 'Tis The Season

 Sat, 29 Nov Headquarters Beercade USD 60 to 85

Eve of the Eve Lake Cocktail Cruise on Tuesday, December 30th

 Tue, 30 Dec at 08:00 pm Anita Dee II TEMPORARILY LOCATED at BURNHAM HARBOR (See directions below) USD 27 to 42

PRETTY NEW YEAR

 Wed, 31 Dec at 09:30 pm Hoste USD 37 to 73

Afrofusion Friday : Afrobeats, Hiphop, Dancehall, Soca (Free Entry)

 Fri, 16 Jan at 09:00 pm BASSLINE USD 0 to 55

Big Richard

 Sat, 31 Jan at 08:00 pm Garcia's Chicago

David Drake At The Lincoln Lodge

 Fri, 27 Feb at 07:00 pm The Lincoln Lodge USD 18

NYE at Liar's Club with Bev Rage & the Drinks / Yada Yada / DJ Scary Lady Sarah

 Wed, 31 Dec at 08:00 pm Liar's Club

West Loop Margarita Fest | Margarita Tastings & Pizza Included

 Sat, 28 Feb at 12:00 pm PB&J: Pizza Beer and Jukebox USD 29 to 58

Happy Baby & The Drop Productions Present A Dopamine Comedy Show

 Sun, 11 Jan at 09:00 pm Laugh Factory USD 34

The Festival of Nine Lessons & Carols

 Sun, 21 Dec at 04:00 pm 65 E Huron St, Chicago, IL, United States, Illinois 60611

Mario Adrion LIVE in Chicago, IL!

 Thu, 22 Jan at 07:00 pm Zanies Comedy Club Chicago

Chanukah Winter Wonderland

 Sun, 21 Dec at 05:00 pm NEWCITY USD 0 to 1,800

ZERO HOUR: NYE Music Festival at Everything Bar

 Wed, 31 Dec 1601 W Grand Ave USD 61 to 215

Nate Craig - Live in Chicago - 2026

 Fri, 09 Jan at 08:00 pm The Lincoln Lodge USD 24

Cupid's Vintage & Artisan Fest presented by Windy City Market

 Sat, 07 Feb at 12:00 pm Artifact Events USD 0 to 9

GRUM at Sound-Bar

 Fri, 30 Jan at 10:00 pm 226 W Ontario St, Chicago, IL

Opening Night of the 2026 Chicago International Puppet Theater Festival

 Wed, 21 Jan at 05:15 pm Studebaker Theater

Rough House Puppet Arts: Nasty, Brutish & Short: Wknd One

 Fri, 23 Jan at 10:00 pm 3111 N Western Ave. Chicago IL 60618

Karl Denson's Tiny Universe

 Tue, 30 Dec at 08:00 pm Garcia's Chicago

Shoe Fest 2025 Holiday Jam - Martyrs' - Chicago, IL

 Fri, 26 Dec at 08:00 pm Martyrs'

MONDAY DECEMBER 29: LATE NITE MIC WITH VIK PANDYA

 Mon, 29 Dec at 07:00 pm The Comedy Bar - Chicago Main Stage Free

Chicago Immigrant Orchestra With Special Guests Ana Everling, Tani Diakate and Jose Rendon

 Sun, 21 Dec at 07:00 pm 201 S. Ashland Avenue, Chicago, IL, United States, Illinois 60607

Bridgerton Ball

 Sat, 10 Jan at 08:00 pm Ballroom Dance Chicago USD 100

DeffJam - Celebrating the Life of Ryan Deffet @ Thalia Hall

 Sat, 03 Jan at 05:00 pm Thalia Hall

WINTERFEST: Chicago Roots Music 2026

 Sat, 24 Jan at 06:00 pm Artifact Events USD 23

Dirty Soda Fest - Unlimited Dirty Sodas, Cookies & Pretzel Bites

 Sat, 31 Jan at 01:00 pm Chicago's BEST Bars TBA USD 31 to 42

DKV Trio *Night One*

 Fri, 26 Dec at 08:00 pm Elastic Arts USD 29 to 45

Caroling Together 2026 - Колядуймо Разом 2026

 Sun, 18 Jan at 02:00 pm St. Nicholas Ukrainian Catholic Cathedral

DKV Trio *Night Two*

 Sat, 27 Dec at 08:00 pm Elastic Arts USD 29 to 45

All Your Friends

 Fri, 09 Jan at 08:00 pm 235 N Ashland Ave, Chicago, IL 60607, USA

Dinosaur Pile-Up

 Wed, 11 Feb at 07:00 pm 235 N Ashland Ave, Chicago, IL 60607, USA

Playboy Manbaby: Corporations are People Toour

 Tue, 10 Feb at 07:00 pm 235 N Ashland Ave, Chicago, IL 60607, USA

Apes of the State / Rent Strike!

 Thu, 26 Feb at 06:00 pm 235 N Ashland Ave, Chicago, IL 60607, USA

MONDAY DECEMBER 22: LATE NITE MIC WITH VIK PANDYA

 Mon, 22 Dec at 07:00 pm The Comedy Bar - Chicago Main Stage Free

MONDAY JANUARY 19: LATE NITE MIC WITH VIK PANDYA

 Mon, 19 Jan at 07:00 pm The Comedy Bar - Chicago Main Stage Free

Anarchotech, Voltaic Planes, Tatv Gral, DJ Veganinblack/ Fri 12.26.2025/ The Burlington Chicago

 Fri, 26 Dec at 08:00 pm Burlington Bar

2026 CHICAGO NEW YEAR SPARKLE AND SHOP

 Fri, 02 Jan at 10:00 am THE MART Free

Phat Phunktion and Bumpus at Martyrs' Chicago

 Fri, 09 Jan at 08:00 pm Martyrs'

Golden Hour Featuring Vivian Garcia

 Thu, 26 Feb at 05:00 pm Epiphany Center for the Arts Free

Voices in Confluence: An Evening of Music, Poetry & Conversation

 Fri, 23 Jan at 07:00 pm Bramble Arts Loft USD 29

Skanking Through The Snow: Midwest Ska Fest

 Sat, 03 Jan at 05:00 pm 235 N Ashland Ave, Chicago, IL 60607, USA

2025 Bronzeville Kwanzaa Celebration & Vendor Fair

 Sat, 27 Dec at 10:00 am 4131 S State St, Chicago, IL 60609-2942, United States

Broken Robots w/ Corn On My Dinner Plate at Martyrs'

 Sat, 10 Jan at 08:00 pm 3855 N Lincoln Ave, Chicago, IL, United States, Illinois 60613

Chicago Hooley

 Sun, 25 Jan at 01:00 pm Irish American Heritage Center USD 23

INK Fest 2026

 Fri, 13 Feb at 10:00 am 754 S Wabash Ave Free

Bloomstock Kids Fest

 Sun, 25 Jan at 10:00 am Bloom Events USD 39

Winter Wellness Experience // An Evening to Move Through the Season

 Thu, 19 Feb at 06:30 pm 311 W Huron St USD 39 to 103

Chicago St. Patrick's Day Bar Crawl

 Sat, 14 Mar at 01:00 pm Chicago USD 0 to 36

Eureka Day at Broadway Playhouse at Water Tower Place

 Tue, 13 Jan Broadway Playhouse at Water Tower Place

Mardi Gras Ball

 Tue, 17 Feb at 07:00 pm Ballroom Dance Chicago USD 87

Stereophonic - Chicago

 Wed, 28 Jan CIBC Theatre

212 Christian Music Festival

 Sat, 28 Feb at 10:00 am 230 N Kolmar Ave USD 0 to 8

DJ Feature: Ca$h Era at Dorothy

 Fri, 09 Jan at 09:00 pm Dorothy Free

Future Artists

 Sat, 17 Jan at 07:00 pm The Edge Theater USD 23

NOSE Film Festival

 Sat, 24 Jan at 07:00 pm FACETS of Chicago USD 13

Official Claire * Sick Day * Almost There But Not Really

 Thu, 08 Jan at 08:30 pm 3740 N Clark St, Chicago, IL, United States, Illinois 60613

Soxfest

 Fri, 30 Jan at 06:00 pm Ramova Theatre

Espresso Martini Fest at Hubbard Inn, Chicago - Tastings Included

 Sat, 27 Sep at 05:00 pm Hubbard Inn USD 31 to 42

C2E2: Chicago Comic and Entertainment Expo - Friday

 Thu, 26 Mar at 06:00 pm McCormick Place

Level Up Fest

 Sun, 28 Dec at 06:00 pm Subterranean

Deff Jam at Thalia Hall

 Sat, 03 Jan at 05:00 pm Thalia Hall

Rempis/Abrams/Ra + Baker

 Sun, 28 Dec at 09:00 pm 2319 W Belmont Ave Chicago IL 60618

Ayse – Chicago Screening

 Thu, 15 Jan at 07:30 pm Facets USD 12

SOLO: The Book Launch!

 Mon, 05 Jan at 07:30 pm The Understudy Coffee and Books Free

Cre8ive Noize Mistleshow

 Sat, 27 Dec at 06:00 pm The Promontory

Legitimizing Your Food Business

 Mon, 19 Jan at 10:00 am R City Kitchen USD 75

Brazilian Dance Social

 Sun, 21 Dec at 07:30 pm Chicago Capoeira Center USD 7 to 13

Leftover Salmon

 Fri, 06 Mar at 06:00 pm Garcia's Chicago

Godfrey Wine Fest - Wine Tasting at I|O Godfrey Rooftop in Chicago

 Sat, 12 Apr at 01:00 pm IO Godfrey Rooftop Lounge

Hunter Hill (an evening of stand up comedy)

 Sat, 07 Mar at 06:00 pm The Lincoln Lodge USD 24

HEALTH + CARPENTER BRUT w/ Desire at The Salt Shed

 Sat, 11 Apr at 06:30 pm The Salt Shed

Golden Hour Featuring DJ C

 Fri, 06 Mar at 05:00 pm Epiphany Center for the Arts Free

GHENGAR at Ramova Theatre

 Sat, 24 Jan Ramova Theatre

St. Patrick's Day Lucky Charms Lake View Bar Crawl

 Sat, 14 Mar at 12:00 pm Lake View USD 19 to 60

St. Patrick's Day Lucky Charms Lincoln Park Bar Crawl

 Sat, 14 Mar at 12:00 pm Lincoln Park USD 14 to 60

Leftover Salmon

 Sat, 07 Mar at 06:00 pm Garcia's Chicago