Summer & fall
Chicago Parish Festivals
Parish festivals are the best street party most people never hear about — food stalls run by families who have made the same recipe for thirty years, rides in the parking lot, a beer tent and a band. All of them are open to anyone.
10 upcoming festivals at 10 parishes
Chicago, IL
Melrose Park, IL
Tinley Park, IL
Flossmoor, IL
Blue Island, IL
Libertyville, IL
Oak Park, IL
Palatine, IL
Des Plaines, IL
No festivals match that. Try a town, a parish, or clear the search.
Also worth knowing
Parish Oktoberfests run their own season from late September — they have a separate guide. For everything else on the calendar, browse Catholic events by city.
Common questions
- When are Chicago-area parish festivals?
- Most run between June and early October, concentrated on summer weekends. Parish picnics tend to fall in July and August; fall fests and carnivals run September into October.
- Do you have to be a parishioner to attend?
- No. Parish festivals are open to the public and are usually one of the parish’s largest fundraisers of the year. Neighbours and visitors are welcome.
- Are parish festivals free?
- Admission is usually free. Food, drink, games and rides are typically paid separately, often with a wristband or ticket sheet for the rides.
- What is a kermés?
- A kermés is a parish fiesta in the Mexican and wider Latin American tradition — food stalls, music, games and dancing, run by parish families as a fundraiser. Several Chicago parishes hold one each year.
