Leaves crunching under feet, the smell of pumpkin spice filling the air with cool breezes, and the crackling of fires. It’s fall and that means it’s time for pumpkin patches, apple orchards, and festivals! So throw on your favorite sweater and scarf, and make some fall memories with these Fall Festivals in Lake County!
COVID-19 Statement: Experts have advised that the best thing for our community during the current Coronavirus pandemic is to reduce crowded gatherings. Please exercise caution when selecting outings. Ultimately it is your decision if you choose to go to public events and spaces. For the best and most up-to-date information on the outbreak locally, please visit the Lake County Health Department COVID-19 status page.
Fall Festivals in Lake County
Please follow the links for more details. If the festival is more than one day, the link provided is for the first day of the event. These are unpredictable times, and we will do our best to keep this list up to date, but PLEASE check details before heading out.
September Festivals | October Festivals
September Festivals in Lake County
Irish Days – September 1 & 2 canceled for 2020
{Historic Long Grove} A celebration of Irish Culture, music, food, and drink. Daily entertainment including Irish musicians, singers, and dancers.
Ravinia District Food Truck Thursdays canceled for 2020
{Highland Park} Enjoy a wide variety of food and drinks from more than a dozen food trucks and local restaurants, while enjoying live outdoor musical performances.
Deer Park Art Show – September 12 & 13
{Deer Park} This year’s art show will be a virtual festival.
Rock the Block – September 12 canceled for 2020
{Lake Zurich} This outdoor festival features food, dancing, and more in downtown Lake Zurich. Lions Park will host children’s activities including face painting, balloon art, and a bounce house.
Bannockburn Day – September 8 canceled for 2020
{Bannockburn} Join friends and neighbors in the village hall open space for food, fun, and entertainment.
Gorton’s Annual Block Party – September 14 canceled for 2020
{Lake Forest} Bring your blankets and lawn chairs while you enjoy food, music, and entertainment at the Block Party. Food, costume contest, activities, entertainment, and a sunset showing of Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse
Fallapalooza canceled for 2020
{Wheeling} Live music, petting zoo, pony rides, inflatables, and hayrides are just some of the activities you’ll find in the line-up of entertainment just for you and your neighbors and family at Fallapalooza.
Shermer Fest– September 13
{Northbrook} Since you cannot come to Shermerfest, the Historical Society is bringing Shermerfest to you. Weather permitting. The “Classic Northbrook CARavan” will travel through the streets of our Village. The start of the parade will be live-streamed on Facebook Live. Then, the CARavan will wind through more almost 7 miles of neighborhood streets in central Northbrook. See the website for route information.
Autumn Fest canceled for 2020
{Highland Park} Join Heller Nature Center for the changing of the seasons! This family-friendly event features live music, reptiles, campfire, crafts, games, self-guided nature walks, hayrides, pumpkin hunt, pony rides, and much more.
Fox Lake Fish Fest: Mayor’s Fish Fry – September 18 canceled for 2020
Long Grove Apple Festival – September 18-20 canceled for 2020
{Long Grove} Celebrate fall with the 29th Annual Apple Fest. Visitors can expect to have bushels of fun at this celebration of fall’s favorite fruit and the many delicious ways to enjoy it in historic downtown Long Grove.
Fall on the Farm – September 19 & 20 canceled for 2020
{Libertyville} Celebrate Fall at Lambs Farm! Children and adults are $15 each, $8 for farmyard admission only (no activities). There will be crafts, face painting, cookie decorating, bounce house, barrel train, games, and more.
Lake Forest Oktoberfest canceled for 2020
{Lake Forest} Enjoy music, food, and kids activities at this fundraiser for the Friends of the Lake Forest Parks. Admission is $10 children 5 and younger are free.
Fall Family Fun Fest – September 26
{Hawthorn Woods} This free community event includes crafts, mini train rides, giveaways, and a variety of activities for children and families. Come touch a truck with local service vehicles.
Oktoberfest canceled for 2020
{Lake Villa} Join the American Aid Society of German Descendents for a traditional Oktoberfest with food, drinks, music, and entertainment.
Schlachtfest to go! With the festival canceled they are offering a one-time Schlachtfest to go on Sunday, November 1. See the website for ordering details.
Oktoberfest – September 25 & 26 canceled for 2020
{Vernon Hills} Free kid’s crafts will be available at Oktoberfest, while supplies last. Free pumpkins to paint, while supplies last, giant sandbox, games, music, food, and more.
Art in the Barn – September 25 & 26 canceled for 2020
{Barrington} Fine art will be on display and ready for purchase to take home. New this year, children can enjoy a petting zoo and feed the animals or create their own art in the Children’s Art Tent.
Octoberfest canceled for 2020
{Wheeling} Join the Wheeling Park District for two days of food, merriment, and music at the annual Oktoberfest event! There will be German and domestic beer, bratwurst, and live entertainment.
Deerfield Harvest Fest – September 28 canceled for 2020
{Deerfield} Start the day at the Deerfield Farmers Market for touch-a-truck and children’s activities. Food, music, and entertainment starts at 5:30 p.m.
October Festivals in Lake County
Please watch for a separate story with all the Halloween events, this story just includes festivals. Also coming soon, Family-Friendly Oktoberfests!
Fall Bulb Festival – October 9-11
{Glencoe} A harvest market; cider, wine, and beer to purchase; and a lovely gourd display. Local vendors will offer baked goods, honey, roasted nuts, fresh jams, and more. No cash or reusable bags permitted. You must wear a mask and have a ticket for timed entry.
Fall Festival – October 4 canceled for 2020
{Ingelside} Hosted by Grant Township, this event features a Touch-a-Truck, inflatables, pony rides from Patch 22, a pie-eating contest, hayrides, and a pumpkin decorating contest.
Oaktober Celebration – October 3
{Round Lake} Pre-registration required limited spots. Celebrate not only our state tree, the White Oak, but all oaks in and around our state. Crafts, activities, and nature hikes will fill this day!
Harvest Fest canceled for 2020
{Glencoe} Celebrate fall at one of the best community events of the year. Spend the morning at Kalk Park enjoying family-friendly games, attractions, and entertainment. Halloween pumpkins will be available for purchase.
BACT’s Oaktober Fest – October 4
{Barrington} All ages are invited to enjoy live music and a bonfire in beautiful Far Field Preserve.
Great Highwood Pumpkin Fest – October 8-10 canceled for 2020
{Highwood} Activities include all you can carve onsite pumpkins, Trick or Treating, Costume Contests, Pumpkin Parade, hayrides, pony rides, petting zoo, carnival rides, kids crafts, two stages jam-packed with solid entertainment, food and beverage vendors galore, and more!
Long Grove DIY Scarecrow Day – October 10
{Long Grove} Help build and dress your own scarecrow to be displayed along the streets of Long Grove. This event takes place on Towner Green. A $5 voluntary donation helps cover the costs of the materials and proceeds will benefit local food shelters. COVID-19 update: you must register for a time to provide spacing, walk-ins may be accepted if time and space allow.
Fox Lake Pumpkin Jubilee – October 17 canceled for 2020
{Fox Lake} This event will have various artisan food vendors and pumpkin carving. At the end of the event, they will light the pumpkins and place them on a pumpkin wall.
Scarecrow Festival – October 12 canceled for 2020
{Barrington} There will be pumpkin and cookie decorating, pony rides, scarecrow decorating, and lots of fun and games for the entire family!
Night of 1,000 Jack-O-Lanterns – October 14-18 & 21-25
{Glencoe} More than 1,000 Hand-Carved pumpkins light up the night through the Chicago Botanic Garden. Advance tickets are $16 for adults and $12 for children. COVID-19 updates: path will be one way, face masks required.
Cook Library’s Annual “Touch-the-Trucks” canceled for 2020
{Libertyville} Cook Street will be closed so children can explore and meet community service vehicles and their friendly drivers. Climb aboard a fire truck, a high reaching cherry picker, the library’s own bookmobile, and more.
What is your favorite fall festival? Share it with us in the comments!
Find more fall family fun at Fall in Lake County.
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