Food Festival Season is Around the Corner. Here are a Few Festivals to Kickstart Your Appetite this May

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Summer is almost here, Chicago. That means festivals have returned. Each month through fall, we’ll highlight some of the food-centric street fests and other events that showcase the diverse culinary scene in the city and suburbs. Below are a few festivals this May to kickstart your appetite for festival season. 

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Aurora Food Truck Fest

Friday, May 2 | On Benton Street from River Street to Broadway, Aurora
Aurora’s spring food truck festival returns this year with plenty of food trucks representing a variety of cuisines, plus music and entertainment. 

Naperville Food Truck Festival

Saturday, May 3 | Naper Settlement, Naperville
Naperville’s celebration of food trucks returns this May with more than 20 food trucks, with everything from lobster bowls and burritos to Greek and Hawaiian food. There will also be live entertainment, activities for the kids, and a Cinco de Mayo beer garden for the grown-ups.

Ballpark Brew Fest

Saturday, May 10 | Wintrust Field, Schaumburg
Some 50 breweries and 100 different beers come to Wintrust Field and Schaumburg for this 12th annual festival of brews.

Zoo Uncorked: Flocktails & Feathers

Saturday, May 10 | Brookfield Zoo
This after-hours, 21+ event at the Brookfield Zoo will have cocktails, mocktails, and, fittingly, "bird-themed activities."

World's Biggest Fair Trade Dinner Party

Saturday, May 10 | Chicago Fair Trade Museum, 4704 N. Broadway
This multiple-course meal features ethically sourced ingredients and locally-grown produce, as prepared by local chefs. A cocktail hour, three-course dinner, and wine, mocktails, and beer will be featured, alongside the stories of the farmers behind each of the ingredients.

Evanston Arts & Craft Beverage Crawl

Thursday, May 15 | Dempster Street, Main Street, Chicago Avenue in Evanston 
This combination arts-and-beverage festival in Evanston takes place in the Dempster Mile commercial district. Sip on craft drinks while you peruse the pop-up art galleries in shops along Dempster Street, Main Street, and Chicago Avenue.

Long Grove Chocolate Festival 

Friday, May 16 through Sunday, May 18 | Downtown Business District, Long Grove
This popular chocolate festival returns to downtown Long Grove for its 25th year, with a wide array of chocolate vendors, family-friendly activities, music, and chocolate-themed activities and games.

Rhubarb Festival

Sunday, May 18 | Kankakee County Museum, Kankakee
The Kankakee County Museum hosts this celebration of rhubarb each year, which features pies, jams, music, kids’ activities, and more.

Blues, Brews & BBQ Fest

Saturday, May 24 | The Mount at The Forge: Lemont Quarries, Lemont
Blues music teams up with beer and BBQ at this festival in Lemont. Try out brews from more than 15 different regional breweries. 

Masala Memories: Celebrating South Asian Food in Chicago

Saturday, May 24 | South Asia Institute, 1925 S. Michigan Ave.
Local food journalists and chefs will lead this panel discussion moderated by author Colleen Taylor Sen on the evolution of Chicago's South Asian food scene, followed by a taste test of South Asian street food.

Mayfestiversary

Saturday, May 24 and Sunday, May 25 | Ravenswood Ave. and Belle Plaine Ave.
Mayfestiversary, hosted by Begyle and Dovetail breweries, returns to Ravenswood this May. This annual spring block party doubles as a fundraiser for the Friendship Center, a local food pantry. We profiled Dovetail last year. 

Windy City Hot Dog Fest

Friday, May 30 through Sunday, June 1 | 4000 N. Milwaukee Ave.
This celebration of the mighty hot dog returns to Portage Park for its fourth year, featuring some of the city's most iconic hot dog stands.