Festival season comes to a close this weekend with four fests, but the music, food and booze are still strong. If tunes are your jam, take your pick of jazz performances at the Hyde Park Jazz Festival. DIY fanatics will want to check out local home and garden designs and arts and crafts at Grand Art & Design Festival. Wine and dine with famous chefs at Chicago Gourmet, or get your beer and brat fix at St. Alphonsus Oktoberfest. But don’t fret—beer will keep flowing through fall. Click here for more fall craft beer events.
When: 1 p.m.–midnight Saturday and 1–8 p.m. Sunday
Where: Various locations in Hyde Park
How much: $5 suggested donation
The skinny: The ninth annual jazz fest, taking place in more than 10 venues throughout Hyde Park, is stacked with performances over two days. Catch trumpeter Ambrose Akinmusire’s “banyan,” a world premiere piece with video footage of jazz legends commissioned by the festival (3:30 p.m. and 5:15 p.m. Saturday, University of Chicago’s Reva and David Logan Center Performance Hall, 915 E. 60th St.). Fat Babies perform tunes by Louis Armstrong, Jelly Roll Morton and other early jazz musicians (4:45 p.m. Saturday, West Stage at South Ellis Avenue and Midway Plaisance). Juan Pastor’s Chinchano band delivers Peruvian folk music with a contemporary jazz twist (5 p.m. Sunday, West Stage).
When: 11 a.m.–8 p.m. Saturday and Sunday
Where: Grand Avenue between Wood Street and Western Avenue
How much: $5 suggested donation
The skinny: Formerly known as Design Harvest, this West Town fest welcomes local home and garden vendors, along with arts and crafts, homemade goods, clothing, jewelry and more. Hear a lineup of country and folk bands curated by The Hideout, including Henhouse Prowlers (6:30 p.m. Saturday, West Stage) and The Lawrence Peters Outfit (5 p.m. Sunday). Grab a bite from food trucks, such as Pierogi Wagon and Da Lobsta, and drop by the indoor exhibit area at Euro Furniture (2145 W. Grand Ave.) for bloody marys and mimosas (11 a.m.–1 p.m.) and happy hour specials 4–6 p.m. both days.
When: Noon–6 p.m Saturday and noon–5 p.m. Sunday
Where: Millennium Park
How much: Main event sold out
The skinny: Celebrate food and wine with hundreds of all-star chefs, mixologists and beverage purveyors. The main attraction features tastings, cocktail seminars and cooking demos with favorites such as Emeril Lagasse and Hot Doug’s Doug Sohn. While the primary event is sold out, there are still tickets for related events, such as Late Night Gourmet with cocktails, snacks and DJs (9 p.m.–midnight Friday, The Underground, 56 W. Illinois St. $50) and Punch Kings, Pigs n’ Tiki, a pig roast with punch by 12 mixologists (8–11 p.m. Saturday, Harris Theater Rooftop, 205 E. Randolph St. $75). Tickets: chicagogourmet.org
When: 5–10 p.m. Sept. 25, 11 a.m.–10 p.m. Sept. 26 and 11 a.m.–7 p.m. Sept. 27
Where: St. Alphonsus Church (1429 W. Wellington Ave.)
How Much: $5 Friday and Saturday, free Sunday
The skinny: Chow down on handmade bratwurst and more authentic German fare at the 15th annual Lakeview fest with traditional live music and plenty of beer. For $40, partake in the craft beer nights Friday and Saturday and sample dozens of German-made and seasonal craft beers. Don’t worry about missing the game Sunday—there’s a tent for that too.
Fest survival tip 20
If you’re venturing to a new neighborhood this weekend, scope out the restaurant options. It’s a win-win because you get to try something new and the restaurant benefits from the festival foot traffic.
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