Best Upcoming Chicago Food Festivals
Chicago Gourmet 2011
Millennium Park
201 E. Randolph St.
Chicago, IL
September 23 - 25
www.illinoisrestaurants.org
An interactive, two-day epicurean extravaganza at Millennium Park, Chicago Gourmet will showcase more than 100 of Chicago's best restaurants and chefs. Arrive hungry and wear your stretchy pants, there will be dozens of cooking demonstrations, gourmet tastings, wine seminars, book signings by chefs, master sommeliers and winemakers. Everything kicks off with a Hamburger Hop on September 23, a burger showdown where Chicago's best chefs will compete to create the city's best burger.
Oyster Fest
2000 W. Roscoe St.
Chicago, IL
September 16 - 17
Fri 6:00 p.m.-10:00 p.m.
Sat 11:00 a.m.-10:00 p.m.
$7 donation
www.chicagoevents.com
This annual festival promises plenty of delicious oysters and plenty of tasty beer, so count us in. To be held in the Roscoe Village neighborhood, proceeds from the festival will benefit the Roscoe Village Chamber of Commerce. And while you enjoy your oysters and beer, look out for two stages featuring live music entertainment and dozens of other food vendors (hot dogs, ribs) for the perfect "usher in the fall" celebration.
Second Annual Chicago Food Film Festival
September 2011
(Schedule and venue TBA)
www.chicagofoodfilmfestival.com
Inspired by the New York Food Film Festival, the Chicago counterpart also features the best documentaries, shorts and full-length films about the world's favorites foods. While festival-goers enjoy the movie, the organizers serve up the food that guests are watching on the screen for a multi-sensory, full-bodied experience. Last year, a sold out crowd feasted on oysters while watching an oyster film, and while the movie Beer Wars screened, viewers sipped local brews and nibbled on burgers. If you like to "eat it while you watch it," stay tuned to festival's website for the upcoming lineup of films and food.
Windy City Wine Festival
Buckingham Fountain
Grant Park
S Columbus Dr & E Congress Pkwy
Chicago, IL
September 9-10
Fri 4:00-10:00 p.m.
Sat 3:00-9:00 p.m.
Adult Tasting Ticket (21+) $27
Designated Driver Ticket (21+) $10
www.windycitywinefestival.com
Wine enthusiasts unite. More than 270 wines from around the world will be available for tasting at the Windy City Wine Festival. The fest will also feature wine seminars, where festival-goers can learn about new and exciting varieties straight from wine experts and sommeliers. And because wine goes down better with some delicious food, some of the city's best restaurants will be selling their signature dishes, and some of the best chefs from them will be holding cooking demonstrations.
Long Grove Apple Festival
Downtown Long Grove
Quarter mile northwest of Routes 53 and 83
September 30-October 2
$2
www.longgroveonline.com
How do you like them apples? At the Long Grove Apple Festival, you'll find many ways to enjoy them: delicious apple pies, apple cider donuts, hot apple cider, caramel apple lattes, apple martinis and more. Long Grove's restaurants will have apple-inspired treats available, and visitors will have bushels of fun with the many activities and live entertainment scheduled throughout the picturesque, historic village.
