When planning your Illinois vacation, you may want to attend a specific Illinois event. There are a variety of cultural events, fairs and holiday celebrations that take place across the entire state. Here are a few of them.
Here is a special Illinois event just for the ladies: especially the ladies who wish to enjoy an Illinois shopping experience. Experience makeup demonstrations, tea parties, a variety of other exciting events. The hat contest is the highlight of this Illinois event. Bring your most elaborate hat, and you can win a prize!
Into The Woods: Elizabeth Illinois
This October event in Illinois takes you back in time to the days of the early settlers. Join the settlers at the Apple River Fort, where you will learn the fine arts of hide tanning, sausage making, meat jerky preparation, gunsmithing, and blacksmithing. Recipes for “spirits” preparation are also part of the festivities. There are also a variety of children's activities.
Tavern on the Green: Woodbine Illinois
Another drinking event in Illinois takes place in November in Woodbine. Visit the Woodbine Club House and enjoy an evening of fun and frivolity, 1830s tavern style. Woodbine Bend will turns into an1830s tavern complete with drinking mugs, tavern songs and waitresses in historic costume.. Dinner is a multi-course meal from 1830s recipe books. The evening's entertainment includes fire eating, rousing tavern songs, beautiful ballads and much more.
Chicago Events
There are so many Chicago events that it would be impossible to list them all on one page. However, here are a few "must see, must do" Chicago events. The Taste of Chicago, which takes place in June in Grant's Park, features cuisine from over 70 Chicago restaurants, as well as entertainment for the entire family.
After the Taste of Chicago, stick around for a few more days so that you can enjoy the Chicago Country Music Festival. In mid- July, enjoy the Chicago Outdoor Film Festival in Butler Field. In September, the Celtic Fest is another one of the popular Chicago events. It takes place in Grant's Park, and features Celtic performers from Brittany, France; Wales, Cornwall, Isle of Man, Galicia, Spain; Ireland and Scotland.
Springfield Illinois Events
International Route 66 Mother Road and Car Show: Springfield Illinois
If you want to get your kicks on Route 66, this is one of the most exciting events in Illinois. You will experience three days of cool cars, hot music, and lots of fun activities for the entire family. It is one of the most popular Springfield Illinois events. The festival features 1,000 top show cars from across the U.S. and Canada, even a few European and British cars. Attend Restoration Alley, where you can participate in free car clinics on everything from detailing and bodywork to metal fabrication, engine rebuilds, and dress ups. On Friday evening, enjoy the “Route 66 City Nights Car Cruise." There are also outdoors stages featuring music from the 50's and 60’s, the heyday of Route 66. Commercial vendors, sell Route 66 memorabilia. This Springfield Illinois event takes place in late September.
Annual Lincoln Pilgrimage
Since 1946, on the last day of April thousands of people make a pilgrimage to Springfield in order to remember Abraham Lincoln. With the Boy Scouts of America as their leaders, visitors tour Lincoln's tomb, New Salem and the Old State Capitol as a way to remember the 16th president's roots and legacy. This is one of the largest events in Springfield Illinois.
