Chicago Food Events This August Feature Garlic, Corn, Lobster, and More
Meredith Francis
July 29, 2025
If you’re a Chicago area foodie, August could be a busy month for you. This month’s food events include festivals that celebrate garlic, corn, lobster, vegetables, Bloody Marys, and more. What a combination! As always, be sure to check out information regarding tickets, timing, and weather before you head out the door.
What are we missing? Send your food event suggestions to us at [email protected].
Chicago Brewing District’s Dancing in the Streets
Friday, August 8 through Sunday, August 10 | Hubbard Street between Paulina and Wood streets
This West Town event calls for “hot jams and cold brews” in an effort to highlight the neighborhood’s burgeoning beer scene, while offering a tip-of-the-hat to the Grateful Dead song. In addition to craft beer from the Chicago Brewing District, enjoy live music, dancing, and plenty of local food vendors.
Taste of Albany Park
Saturday, August 9 | Kimball Avenue between Lawrence and Leland avenues
This Taste of Chicago neighborhood offshoot event celebrates the food of Albany Park, one of the most diverse neighborhoods in the city.
Veggie Fest
Saturday, August 9 and Sunday, August 10 | Danada South Park, Lisle
This health-conscious event in Lisle offers a varied but fresh food court, cooking demonstrations, and speakers.
Garlic Fest
Wednesday, August 13 | Everts Park, 111 North Ave., Highwood
Have your mints handy, because this garlic-centric festival in Highwood promises to be “a stinking good time.”
Oak Park Microbrew Review
Saturday, August 16 | North Marion Street between Lake Street and North Boulevard, Oak Park
This Oak Park beer celebration features beers, ciders, and seltzers from 50 different breweries around Chicagoland and claims to be the largest zero-waste craft beer festival in the Midwest.
Great American Lobster Fest
Saturday, August 16 and Sunday, August 17 | Navy Pier
If you’re on the lakefront for the Air and Water Show this weekend, stop by Navy Pier to enjoy live lobster flown in fresh from the East Coast. The event also has non-seafood options and desserts.
Wine and Art Walk
Saturday, August 16 and Sunday, August 17 | The Morton Arboretum, Lisle
Sip on a glass of wine and nature-themed art as you stroll through the trees at The Morton Arboretum.
Around the World Food Truck Festival
Sunday, August 17 | The Forge: Lemont Quarries, Lemont
The Forge adventure park in Lemont is hosting a food truck festival featuring cuisine from all over the globe.
Bloody Mary Fest
Sunday, August 17 | Everts Park, 111 North Ave., Highwood
More than a dozen vendors will put their own spin on the traditional Bloody Mary cocktail at this event in Highwood.
Corn Fest
Friday August 22 through Sunday, August 24 | Lincoln Hwy. between 1st and 4th St., DeKalb
What began as a corn boil in the 1950s in DeKalb is now a large music, food, and carnival event complete with a beer garden.
Pizza City Fest
Friday August 22 through Sunday, August 24 | 430 N. Rush St.
This festival organized by Chicago journalist and pizza obsessive Steve Dolinsky celebrates 40 of the region’s pizza makers with demos, seminars, speakers and, of course, pizza.
Taste of Greektown
Friday August 22 through Sunday, August 24 | 315 S. Halsted St.
Celebrate Hellenic culture and cuisine at this Greek-centric festival in Chicago’s Greektown neighborhood.
West Chicago Food Festival
Saturday, August 23 | Downtown West Chicago
The city of West Chicago hosts this festival highlighting the food and beverages of the area.
Zoo Uncorked: Wine & Vines
Saturday, August 23 | Brookfield Zoo
Explore the zoo’s new Bramsen Tropical Forest habitat while tasting wines and cocktails at this 21+ event.
Chicago Romanian Food & Folk Festival
Saturday, August 23 and Sunday, August 24 | 5825 N. Mozart St.
This unique festival showcases Romanian food and culture in the city’s West Ridge neighborhood.
Lakeview Taco Fest
Saturday, August 23 and Sunday, August 24 | 3500 N. Southport Ave.
This celebration of tacos returns to Lakeview’s Southport Corridor for the 12th year. Try out a variety of tacos with beer pairings, music, entertainment, and more.
Sangria Festival Chicago
Saturday, August 23 and Sunday, August 24 | Humboldt Park
The beautiful Humboldt Park is the backdrop for this sangria-centric festival with food, dance, and more.
Eeeeeatscon
Saturday, August 23 and Sunday, August 24 | The Salt Shed, 1357 N. Elston Ave.
This two-day food festival at the Salt Shed hosted by The Infatuation says it has “the spirit of a music festival, but with restaurants as the headliners.”
Taste of Polonia
Friday, August 29 through Monday, September 1 | Copernicus Center, 5216 W. Lawrence Ave.
The annual Taste of Polonia festival is back on Labor Day weekend in Jefferson Park. For four days, feast on pierogi, potato pancakes, and more amid this large celebration of Polish culture, music, and heritage.
WingOut Chicago
Saturday, August 30 and Sunday, August 31 | Gallagher Way, 3635 N. Clark St.
Gallagher Way (outside Wrigley Field) is the locale for this “ultimate chicken wing block party.”
Block Party & Taste of Batavia
Sunday, August 31 | Peg Bond Center, 151 N. Island Ave., Batavia
Enjoy a taste of Batavia’s local restaurants, a pie baking contest, and lots of other entertainment (including a car show) at this big block party.
