Best Places To Celebrate Oktoberfest In The Chicago Area

This fall, add a bit of German food, beer and music to your weekend plans and celebrate Oktoberfest in the Chicago area. From the city to the suburbs, there are plenty of venues with Oktoberfest events, and plenty of places for you to eat, drink and be merry with friends and family. If you're not sure where to find an Oktoberfest celebration in the Chicago area, then consider checking out the following five festivals listed in chronological order. For additional celebrations in the Chicago area, check out this article, this article, and this article.

Palatine Oktoberfest
150 W. Slade St.
Palatine, IL 60067
www.palatinerotary.com

Dates: Sept. 19-21, 2014

Celebrate Oktoberfest over three days during the Rotary Club of Palatine's annual festival. Held Sept. 19 through 21, 2014, the Palatine Oktoberfest has German food, beer and wine, making it a fun and authentic celebration. Does the thought of going outside on a chilly autumn Chicago evening fill you with dread? Don't worry, as this Oktoberfest has a heated tent so you can stay comfortable well into the night. Add some "oompah" to your weekend and dance the night away with the festival's lineup of traditional German music. Family Day, held Sept. 20 from noon to 3:30 p.m., includes arts and crafts, face painting and even a crash course in German geared for kids.

Berwyn's Historic Depot District Oktoberfest Depot District
Windsor and Stanley Avenues between Oak Park and Home Avenues
(708) 788-8100
www.berwyn.net

Dates: Sept. 19-20, 2014

Kick off your fall celebrations in the Chicago area by heading to Berwyn's Historic Depot District Oktoberfest. The family-friendly event is held along both sides of the Metra train tracks and features plenty of live music and entertainment, including polka, swing and pop and rock hits. Food, crafts and beer are available for sale during the festival, too. Berwyn's Oktoberfest celebration also includes a festival area just for kids, complete with crafts, face painting, carnival rides and games just for toddlers. This Oktoberfest celebration is held Sept. 19 and 20, 2014.

Oktoberfest In Vernon Hills
Metra Station
75 E US Highway 45
Vernon Hills, IL 60061
(847) 367-3700
www.vernonhills.org

Date: Sept. 27, 2014

This fall, add Vernon Hills' annual Oktoberfest celebration to your weekend plans. Held on Sept. 27, 2014, from 3 p.m. to 10 p.m., the festival has something for everyone in your group. Live entertainment is scheduled throughout the event, so you can be assured of staying on your feet and dancing the night away. Food, beer and assorted beverages are also available for purchase, and children will enjoy participating in the crafts and other activities just for them.

Related: Best Ways To Celebrate Oktoberfest In Chicago

Laschet's Inn
2119 W. Irving Park Rd.
Chicago, IL 60618
(773) 478-7915
www.laschetsinn.com

Dates: Sept. 28 through Oct. 31, 2014

If you're in Chicago's North Center neighborhood, then consider stopping in at Laschet's Inn for some German music, food and beer. The restaurant celebrates Oktoberfest from Sept. 29 through Oct. 31, 2014, and will have a different Oktoberfest beer on tap every week and a special food menu during the festivities. Domestic beer, including Miller Lite and Old Style, are also available, and the restaurant carries a wide selection of wine from Germany. And what's an Oktoberfest celebration without music? Laschet's Inn will have music several times per week, as well as raffles and other events.

Dates: Oct. 4-5 and 11-12, 2014

Why celebrate Oktoberfest for just one day when you can celebrate it over two weekends? Long Grove's Oktoberfest is held Oct. 4 and 5, and the following week on Oct. 11 and 12, 2014. Held in Long Grove's historic downtown, the festival includes German food, beer, live entertainment and hayrides. If you're a fan of classic cars, then you might want to make time to head to the European Autoschau on Oct. 4 during the festival. The festival is held from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on all four days. In between celebrations and events, make time to check out the unique shops that line Long Grove's downtown.

Related: Best Places To Celebrate Oktoberfest 2012 In Chicago

Megan Horst-Hatch is a runner, reader, baker, gardener, knitter, and other words that end in "-er." She is also the president of Megan Writes, LLC. Her work can be found at Examiner.com.