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Illinois Events 2026
Chicago and its suburbs anchor the Illinois holiday season. Illumination at the Morton Arboretum opens November 14. A week later come ZooLights at Lincoln Park Zoo, Holiday Magic at Brookfield Zoo and the Magnificent Mile Lights Festival on Michigan Avenue. The Christkindlmarket has spots in Wrigleyville and Aurora.
Thanksgiving morning brings the Chicago Thanksgiving Parade. Before all that, farms like Goebbert’s in South Barrington and Bengtson’s in Homer Glen keep pumpkin season going into early November.
This weekend · 50 current and upcoming listings
26 on now · 24 coming up
Holiday events in Illinois: Holiday lights · Christmas markets · Christmas events · Thanksgiving & turkey trots
50 events in Illinois
October 2026 (26)
November 2026 (15)
December 2026 (6)
January 2027 (1)
February 2027 (2)
Recently ended (39)
These dates have passed. Each page stays up as a record until the organizer publishes new dates.
Weekend drive: Milwaukee and Chicago holiday kickoff road trip 2026
This weekend in Illinois
Friday to Sunday, October 30 – November 1: 17 listings with dates that overlap the weekend, counting season-long events (weekly farmers markets not counted).
- All Seasons Orchard Fall Season — Woodstock · August 29 - November 1, 2026
- Bengtson's Farm FallFest — Homer Glen · September 4 - November 8, 2026
- Rader Family Farms Fall Season — Normal · September 4 - November 1, 2026
- Goebbert's Farm Fall Festival (South Barrington) — South Barrington · September 5 - November 1, 2026
- Disturbia Haunted House — Downers Grove · September 12 - November 13, 2026
- Richardson Adventure Farm Corn Maze — Spring Grove · September 12 - November 1, 2026
- Windy Acres Farm Fall Pumpkin Festival — Geneva · September 12 - October 31, 2026
- Heap's Giant Pumpkin Farm — Minooka · September 13 - October 31, 2026
- Happy Times Pumpkin Fest at Didier Farms — Lincolnshire · September 16 - October 31, 2026
- The Great Pumpkin Patch — Arthur · September 16 - October 31, 2026
- Great Godfrey Corn Maze — Godfrey · September 18 - November 1, 2026
- Kuipers Family Farm Fall Harvest Fest — Maple Park · September 18 - November 1, 2026
Plus 5 more in the month lists below.
Illinois by the numbers
USA Fest Bot has 50 current and upcoming Illinois listings: 9 farmers markets, 7 festivals, 5 charity runs or walks, 4 haunted attractions, and 25 other listings. November 2026 is the busiest month ahead, with 15 listings starting. Chicago has the most listings, with 15. The next fair or festival to start is Chicago International Puppet Theater Festival in Chicago, starting January 20, 2027.
Dates can change, so check the event’s website before you go.