Attention all beer enthusiasts! Cheers to Chicago’s booming craft beer scene at the city’s packed calendar of beer fests. Sample craft beers — from IPAs to hard ciders and beyond — made by local, national, and international breweries at Chicago beer festivals and events scheduled all year long.
Explore Chicago’s beer festival calendar and start planning your year of beer.
Spring and summer beer festivals in Chicago
Chicago Mayfest
Raise your glass under the big top tent! Right at the start of summer, this celebration kicks off Chicago’s summer beer festival season. The local favorite fest takes place in the Lakeview neighborhood with live music, German food and drink, and an outdoor beer garden.
Illinois Craft Beer Week
Join the annual celebration of Illinois craft beer with tap takeovers, tastings of rare beers, food and beer pairings, and loads of other special events. The main event is Beer Under Glass, a tasting fest at a unique Chicago location.
Maifest Chicago
The Lincoln Square neighborhood has been hosting this four-day festival for more than 20 years, with a hearty dose of German beer, food, live bands, a traditional maypole — and a lot of lederhosen.
Craft Brews at the Zoo
Savor specialty brews from local and regional breweries at this one-of-a-kind event. Beer-tasting stations will be set up throughout the Lincoln Park Zoo‘s beautiful grounds during this after-hours experience just for adults. Plus, enjoy food for purchase, DJs spinning, lawn games, and unique after-hours animal viewings.
Craft Beer Festival at The Morton Arboretum
Drink craft beers among the trees at The Morton Arboretum’s outdoor festival, which pairs live music and serene surroundings with beer tastings from dozens of local producers. Located in nearby Lisle, this nature haven is a living plant museum. Bring a chair or blanket to kick back on the grass while enjoying local brews from your souvenir tasting glass.
Ravenswood on Tap
Chicago’s Ravenswood neighborhood is one of the hottest craft beer communities in the country, home to more than 10 unique local brewers. Sample the best of this beer-centric neighborhood during Ravenswood on Tap, a two-day tasting that includes food trucks, a killer lineup of live music, and handmade goods from local artisans.
Horner Brew Fest
Fill up on craft beer and live music on a warm summer night in Chicago’s beautiful riverfront Horner Park. Tasty food trucks will line the park and local bands will play throughout the evening. The proceeds for the event go back into protecting and maintaining the park’s natural areas.
Square Roots Festival
The Square Roots Festival is a popular craft beer and folk music experience in Chicago’s historic Lincoln Square neighborhood. Enjoy 50 local craft brews (including special batch and limited release taps), stellar local cuisine, and a diverse lineup of entertainment from the renowned Old Town School of Folk Music.
Fall and winter beer festivals in Chicago
Chicago German-American Oktoberfest
Toast to German culture at this annual Oktoberfest in Lincoln Square. Try authentic German food and traditional drinks, dance to the music of German bands, and spend the evening with friends enjoying fall in Chicago.
312 Block Party at Goose Island Beer Co.
The annual block party is always packed with beer, food, and live music at Goose Island’s iconic Fulton Street Brewery. Start with the classic brews, like fave Goose Island brews 312 Urban Wheat Ale and Green Line IPA, before indulging in specialty pours of Bourbon County Brand Stout. Then check out the local eats and live bands playing late into the night.
Revolution Oktoberfest on the Riverwalk
Join in this waterfront pub crawl, hosted by one of the city’s most famous local breweries. Grab your Revolution Oktoberfest stein and crawl your way through the Chicago Riverwalk’s scenic wineries, beer gardens, restaurants, and more.
Oktoberfest Chicago
St. Alphonsus hosts its annual Oktoberfest celebration! The three-day family-friendly festival is located inside and outside the church on the streets of the Lakeview neighborhood, with craft beer tastings, live music, local food vendors, and family-friendly activities each day.
Oktoberfestiversary
The two-day, annual Oktoberfestiversary is brought to you by two of Chicago’s most beloved microbrewers. Dovetail and Begyle, two neighboring breweries in Ravenswood, join forces to celebrate the neighborhood, season, and beer. Entertainment, food trucks, and lots of beer are on the agenda.
The Chicago Beer Festival
Dinosaur bones and craft brews? Why not?! Domestic and international breweries will be sampling their spring seasonal beers in the sprawling main hall of the Field Museum. And after you have your sips, go exploring as select museum exhibits will be open to attendees. Don’t forget to say hi to SUE, the most complete T. rex ever discovered.
Festival of Wood and Barrel-Aged Beers
Insiders know it as FoBAB — and they know this is the hottest ticket if you want to enjoy the most exclusive beers out there. This is the country’s largest celebration of wood and barrel-aged beers, featuring over 160 breweries pouring their rarest brews that bring craft beer fans to Chicago this year.
BrewLights at Lincoln Park Zoo
Explore Chicago’s historic zoo with a craft brew in hand, while more than 2.5 million lights illuminate the zoo grounds. Make your way through local craft, seasonal, and imported beers, located at stations throughout the zoo, while exploring animal exhibits and holiday activations.
Christmas and Winter Beer Tasting
This seasonal beer fest bills itself to be the most comprehensive tasting of Christmas and winter beers held anywhere in North America. There will be over 100 beers to sample from all over the globe at this casual Lincoln Park bar.
Winter Brew
Stay warm while drinking a cold one. This event brings the street festival scene indoors for the winter. Local breweries and cideries set up in the Lincoln Square/Ravenswood neighborhood. Each will showcase up to two of their brews, including rare and specialty options.
Looking for more? Explore beer tastings and festivals in Chicago this month.
