9 Popular Festivals In Evanston, Illinois

festivals in evanston
Agnes
Agnes 
Updated
| 4 min read

Evanston, Illinois, is a beautiful city in the cook county covered with farms, forests, lush hillside landscapes, and wetlands. This historical tourist destination offers you one of the most amazing views of the city’s unmatched sea views and amazing attractions around the place which are a major site to behold. Furthermore, there are several things which you can do while staying in this place to keep your holiday busy as you make some great memories. Check out this list of popular festivals in Evanston, Illinois, which you can enjoy while appreciating the rich culture and the warm welcoming people.

1. Streets Alive and the Evanston Green Living Festival [Last event in 2019]

Posted by City of Evanston Illinois Government on Wednesday, 10 July 2019

Every September a stretch of the main street, usually between Dodge and Chicago Avenue is opened for community art, play, and exercise where people come to enjoy. Evanston’s streets come alive with culture on display. Streets Alive promotes physical activity, local culture, and environmental awareness, and on this day; it draws thousands of people from around the state and offers them a front-row seat to sample the wonderful experiences of Evanston. Make sure to come with a camera because you’ll have a lot of memories to make while attending this event.

Streets Alive and the Evanston Green Living Festival

Address: Main Street from Florence to Chicago Ave

Website: Streets Alive and the Evanston Green Living Festival

Opening hours: September

Price: Free

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2. Fountain Square Artisan Summer Fest [Last event in 2019]


Held just steps north of downtown’s Fountain Square, is one of the North Shore’s oldest fine arts festival presented by the Evanston Chamber of Commerce. It showcases an inspirational mix of juried handiwork from nearly 100 artists who offer some of the most amazing pieces on display. As for the kids, there is usually an activity area with several interactive projects overseen by the Evanston Art Center. Even better there is also a music stage, food and beverage vendors, and entertainment courtesy of strolling street musicians and performers who are a majestic scene to behold.

Fountain Square Artisan Summer Fest (June)

Address: 1700 Sherman Ave.Evanston Illinois

Opening hours: June

Price: Free

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3. Taste of Evanston

Posted by Taste of Evanston on Friday, 12 July 2019

Sponsored by the Evanston Lighthouse Rotary Club. This event is usually held on the east lawn of the magnificent Charles Gates Dawes House, home to Evanston History Center, for delicious appetizers, and desserts. While you enjoy the food and drink from 40 of Evanston’s trendiest restaurants, local breweries, and wine shops, you’ll also be raising funds to help end homelessness. The proceeds are usually aimed at supporting homeless individuals and families to achieve stable housing.

Taste of Evanston

Address: 225 Greenwood St, Evanston, IL 60201, United States

Website: Taste of Evanston

Opening hours: Usually held in July

Price: Free

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4. Evanston Art & Big Fork Festival

Posted by Amdur Productions on Friday, 14 June 2019

Evanston Art & Big Fork Festival is usually a weekend-long celebration of local art and exciting activities. It features local fare, beer, wine, live music, and original high-end work from 130 artists available for purchase. Traditional mediums such as painting, sculpture, and photography are also showcased alongside unique art, including handmade jewelry, one-of-a-kind furniture, and home accessories. This is something you don’t want to miss if you are a music lover!

Evanston Art & Big Fork Festival (August)

Address: Downtown Evanston, Evanston, Illinois, United States

Website: Evanston Art & Big Fork Festival

Opening hours: August

Price: Free

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5. Out of Space


This is an event that is hosted by Space a recording studio that hosts both seated and standing-room-only shows across a variety of genres from folk to rock to jazz and other genres. Candle-lit cabaret tables along with general admission seats comfortably hold around 240 people while standing room only shows can accommodate 330. No matter the show setup, this studio prides itself on providing an intimate setting for fans of all ages to get up-close-and-personal with their popular acts.

Out of Space (June)

Address: 1245 Chicago Avenue Evanston, IL 60202

Website: Out of Space

Opening hours: Usually held in June

Price: 25 - 35 USD

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6. Day Of The Dead Celebration (Evanston)

Posted by Sones de Mexico Ensemble on Wednesday, 9 October 2019

This event features live entertainment from Sones de Mexico Ensemble and interactive art stations where families bond together. In addition, there is usually a lot of Mexican food and drink available for purchase which you can sample for your taste bud treatment. Furthermore, this event is open to all the people which is why your attendance is a must. Just make sure that you come ready to dance to some soothing Mexican tunes as you mingle with the exciting locals.

Day Of The Dead Celebration (Evanston)

Address: 300 Dodge Avenue Evanston , Illinois 60202

Website: Day Of The Dead Celebration

Opening hours: October

Price: Free

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7. First Night Evanston

This festival started in 1992. It introduced the area’s best and most reasonable New Year’s Eve celebration to foster public appreciation for visual and performing arts. It was to be done through an innovative, New Year’s Eve celebration that provides a shared cultural experience while being affordable to all. No matter the weather, you can still be comfy and cozy all evening because the setting is perfect for people to come and just have some stress-free time!

First Night Evanston

Address: 516 Church Street First United Methodist Church

Website: First Night Evanston

Opening hours: December

Price: 10 - 100 USD

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8. Evanston Chamber Artisan SummerFest

Check out this exciting festival which features a great blend of artists who come to showcase their talents to the locals of this city. It also happens to be the city’s oldest fine arts fair where it showcases the works of more than 100 artists and close to 30 creative artisans who make unique eco-friendly art from recycled and found materials. Away from art, you will also find ticketed wine-tasting stands, craft beers, delicious food, street musicians, and performers. There are fun activities for both kids and families too as a way of bonding.

Evanston Chamber Artisan SummerFest

Address: 1700 Sherman Ave, Evanston, IL 60201-3713, United States

Website: Evanston Chamber Artisan SummerFest

Opening hours: June

Price: 5 USD

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9. Starlight Concert Series

McAninch Arts Center's Starlight Concert Series Featuring American English 2014
Source: Photo by user COD Newsroom used under CC BY 2.0

Take a day off your busy touring schedule to sample this exciting concert series which features nine free outdoor concerts at park locations throughout the city. This event is presented by the City’s Parks, Recreation, and Community Services Department where people get the chance to come and indulge in free niceties such as movies, a dazzling array of local jazz, live bands, and other musical artists who grace the stage.

Starlight Concert Series (July)

Address: Canal Shores Golf Course, 1030 Central Street, Evanston, Illinois 60201, Evanston, United States

Website: Starlight Concert Series

Opening hours: June to July

Price: Free

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Visit this lively holiday destination

There are many places you would want to go and enjoy the culture but not as amazing as this city. Make sure to experience one or some of the popular festivals in Evanston, Illinois. If you are in search of the perfect place to attend a concert or a live event as you vacay, this is the city to be.

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Any must-sees we missed? Tell us about them in the comments section or write a post here to help out fellow travelers!
Disclosure: Trip101 selects the listings in our articles independently. Some of the listings in this article contain affiliate links.

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Agnes is a lover of great travels and enjoys seeing the world from different points and nothing is as exciting as giving a tale of her travel experiences seeking new adventures that build her...Read more

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