Oktoberfest in Chicago 2026: Every Fest, Plus Beer Halls Worth the Trip
Chicago takes Oktoberfest seriously, and so do the suburbs. Between early September and the first weekend of October there are a dozen legitimate fests across Chicagoland, from the Old Town street party to a brewery Oktoberfest in Long Grove. Below: the full calendar for both the city and the suburbs, then the German restaurants and beer halls running deals right now.
Oktoberfests in the city
| Fest | Dates | Where | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Old Town Oktoberfest | Sep 18 – 20 | Old Town | The city's best-known Oktoberfest street party, steins and brats on the North Ave corridor. |
| Oktoberfest Chicago (Lakeview) | Sep 25 – 27 | Southport / Lakeview | St. Alphonsus grounds, German bands, liter pours and a genuinely Bavarian crowd. |
| Berghoff Oktoberfest | Mid-September | The Loop, Adams St | The Berghoff shuts down Adams for its annual fest. Confirm 2026 dates with the restaurant. |
Oktoberfests in the suburbs
The suburbs out-fest the city in September. These are worth the drive.
| Fest | Dates | Where | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Schaumburg Septemberfest | Sep 5 – 7 | Schaumburg | Labor Day weekend kickoff to fest season, carnival, parade and beer tent. |
| Glendale Heights Oktoberfest | Sep 10 – 20 | Glendale Heights | One of the longest runs in the area. |
| Palatine Oktoberfest | Sep 18 – 20 | Downtown Palatine | Northwest suburbs' biggest, right by the Metra station. |
| Elk Grove Oktoberfest | Sep 18 – 19 | Elk Grove Village | Village-run, family-friendly. |
| Mount Prospect Oktoberfest & Fall Festival | Sep 18 – 19 | Mount Prospect | Fest plus a fall festival on the same grounds. |
| Long Grove Apple Fest | Sep 25 – 27 | Historic Long Grove | Not an Oktoberfest, but the definitive Chicagoland fall festival: cider, apple donuts, cobblestone streets. |
| Naperville Oktoberfest | Sep 30 – Oct 1 | Naper Settlement | Heated tent, traditional German food and beer, polka and rock. |
| Buffalo Creek Brewing Oktoberfest | Oct 2 – 4 | Long Grove | Brewery-run and the last good one of the season. |
Dates are as published for 2026 and occasionally shift. Confirm with each fest before you go.
Beer halls & German spots with deals now
The Berghoff
Happy Hour
The Loop · Happy Hour
The Bavarian Lodge
Straffe Hendrik Night – Belgian Brewery Meet & Greet
Lisle · Event
Chef Klaus' Bier Stube
Happy Hour Monday-Friday 3:00-6:00 pm & 9:00-Close with 2-for-1 premium wells, 2-for-1 GC pints, $5 select glasses of wine, $5 select cocktails, $5 select appetizers and small plates, and $8 flatbread
Frankfort · Daily Special
Schnitzel Platz
National Pretzel Day Promotions
Lombard · Seasonal
Edelweiss German American Cuisine
Teacher & Nurse Appreciation Week
Norridge · Event
Wurst Behaivor
Happy Hour
North Center · Happy Hour
Palmer Place
Oktoberfest 2022
La Grange · Seasonal
DANK HAUS GERMAN AMERICAN CULTURAL CENTER
Oktoberfest 2026 will feature authentic German beers, wines, ciders, and schnapps.
Lincoln Square · Daily Special
Crushed By Giants
Oktoberfest Stein Deal
Streeterville · Seasonal
Boss Bar
Paulaner Oktoberfest Bier Special
River North · Seasonal
Sheffield's Beer Garden
Happy Hour
Lakeview · Happy Hour
Nick's Beer Garden
Happy Hour
Wicker Park · Happy Hour
Ten Cat Tavern
Arsenal Watch Parties
Lakeview · Game Day
Giant
Off Hours Beer Garden Pop-up
Logan Square · Event
Moody Tongue Brewing Company / The Bar At Moody Tongue / The Dining Room At Moody Tongue
12 Layer Strawberry Rhubarb Shortcake - Spring Pop-Up
South Loop · Seasonal
Sidecar Supper Club & Beer Garden
Free live music on Tuesdays (Songwriters) and Sundays (Bluegrass)
Batavia · Daily Special
Beer Garden at Millennium Hall
Weekday happy hour Mon-Fri 4-6pm: $5 Double Clutch pints, $6 house wines, $10 frozen beverages, and $5 off all appetizers and pizzas
The Loop · Daily Special
CODY'S PUBLIC HOUSE
Bring Your Own Meat (BYOM) and grill in the beer garden
Lakeview · Daily Special
How to plan the season
September 18 to 20 is the single busiest weekend, with Old Town, Palatine, Elk Grove and Mount Prospect all running at once. If you want one city fest and one suburban fest, pair Old Town that weekend with Lakeview or Long Grove the weekend after. Metra makes Palatine and Long Grove genuinely easy without a car, and the fests near stations are the ones where you can actually drink a liter and get home. For the last call of the season, Buffalo Creek Brewing on October 2 to 4 runs after most fests have packed up.
Oktoberfest Chicago FAQ
When is Oktoberfest in Chicago in 2026?
Chicagoland's Oktoberfest season runs from early September through the first weekend of October. The two biggest city fests are Old Town Oktoberfest (September 18 to 20) and Oktoberfest Chicago in Lakeview (September 25 to 27). Suburban fests fill in the rest, from Schaumburg Septemberfest over Labor Day weekend to Buffalo Creek Brewing in Long Grove on October 2 to 4.
What are the best Oktoberfests in the Chicago suburbs?
Palatine Oktoberfest (September 18 to 20) is the biggest in the northwest suburbs and sits right by the Metra station. Naperville's fest at Naper Settlement (September 30 to October 1) has a heated tent with traditional German food. Long Grove Apple Fest (September 25 to 27) is not technically Oktoberfest but is the definitive Chicagoland fall festival, and Buffalo Creek Brewing runs a proper brewery Oktoberfest the following weekend.
Where can I drink German beer in Chicago year-round?
Chicago has a deep German and beer hall tradition: the Berghoff in the Loop, Radler and Dovetail in Logan Square, Lincoln Square's Huettenbar and Chicago Brauhaus lineage, Resi's Bierstube in North Center, and Kaiser Tiger in the West Loop. Many run happy hours and stein specials outside fest season, and this guide lists what is currently running.
Is Oktoberfest free in Chicago?
It varies. Most city street fests ask for a suggested donation at the gate (often $10 to $15), and suburban village fests are usually free to enter with food and beer sold by ticket. Brewery-hosted Oktoberfests are typically free entry with drinks priced normally. Check each fest's own site before you go.
What should I order at an Oktoberfest?
A liter of Märzen or festbier is the classic, alongside bratwurst, pretzels with obatzda, schnitzel, and potato pancakes. Most Chicago fests pour Bavarian imports plus local Oktoberfest-style lagers from Illinois breweries, and the brewery-hosted ones lean heavily local.
Keep exploring
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