THE PRAIRIE STATE / FESTIVAL FIELD GUIDE
Illinois beer
festivals.
Make a weekend.
Ten Illinois beer festival destinations, from Chicago’s barrel-aged showcase and rooftop tasting to suburban museum grounds, Mississippi River views, and Southern Illinois. Pick a region, check the edition, and make a weekend around the pour.
ILLINOISBEER FESTIVALS
City skylines.
Prairie pours.FOLLOW A FESTIVAL. EXPLORE A LITTLE.
CURRENT & UPCOMING EDITIONS
FoBAB has two Chicago tasting sessions on November 13–14, 2026. Frogtown returns to East Moline on November 28. Completed editions stay on the board as destinations to watch.
Pick a place. Find your next favorite.
01 / PICK YOUR PART OF THE STATE
Start close.
Keep exploring.
Choose a regional starting point, then compare the format. A brewery tasting, a beer garden, and a food-first celebration make different kinds of weekends.
2 FESTIVAL PICKS
Chicago / City Festivals
Wood-aged pours at FoBAB and a statewide brewery gathering on the Harris Theater rooftop.
Explore this region ↗3 FESTIVAL PICKS
Oak Park / Elmhurst / Naperville
Oak Park’s sustainability fundraiser, Elmhurst’s museum tasting, and Naperville’s winter festival.
Explore this region ↗2 FESTIVAL PICKS
Rockford / Galena
Rockford’s riverfront brewery gathering and Galena’s resort tasting above the Mississippi.
Explore this region ↗1 FESTIVAL PICK
Decatur / Central Illinois
Craft beer, artists, food vendors, and an arts fundraiser in Decatur’s Central Park.
Explore this region ↗1 FESTIVAL PICK
East Moline / Quad Cities
Frogtown’s late-November indoor gathering at The Rust Belt.
Explore this region ↗1 FESTIVAL PICK
Murphysboro / Southern Illinois
Big Muddy Monster Brewfest’s community fundraiser at Murphysboro’s Riverside Park.
Explore this region ↗This is a destination guide with the last verified edition shown when a new date is unannounced. Some picks are broader craft-beverage or heritage celebrations with beer at their center. Pair the shortlist with our Illinois brewery guide and Illinois beer roundup.
02 / DATES WITH THE YEAR ATTACHED
What is on
the calendar?
Announced future editions and completed editions to watch. Every date belongs to the stated year; old ticket links do not become new festival dates.
Organizer and official destination announcements checked October 12, 2026. Packages, venues, and dates can change. Confirm the current edition before buying or booking.
FoBAB admission is by session.
November 13–14 describes two separate 2026 tasting sessions. Choose Friday evening or Saturday afternoon and confirm the access