Jewelry, sculptures, art work, and tasty treats are a feast for all senses, especially for your little tykes. With the blazing sun set high in the sky, art fairs and festivals are in full swing in Chicago, and many other culturally diverse cities. Spending an afternoon outdoors enjoying local talented artists, and live music, is the perfect low-cost summer activity for mamas and their kin trying to escape Caillou and that extra load of laundry.
Oftentimes, art fairs also feature activities for young children such as mural painting, tie-dying, art contests, and other art-related projects. Mama can walk around looking at funky art, with a glass of Pinot in her hand, while the littles drum up inspiration for their new artsy endeavor. Win, win!
Check out these upcoming family friendly art festivals in Chicagoland, and beyond, that are free-of-charge.
August
August 11 & 12
Lincolnshire
20th Annual Lincolnshire Art Festival
Village Green Lincolnshire
10 am to 5 pm
120 Artists
August 17 – 19
Evanston
5th Annual Evanston Art & Big Fork Festival
Sherman Avenue from Clarke to Davis
Friday 4 pm to Dusk/Saturday 10 am to Dusk/Sunday 10 am to 5 pm
150 Artists
August 25 & 26
Oak Park
44th Annual Oak Park Avenue-Lake Arts & Crafts Show
Scoville Park
Oak Park Ave & Lake St
Saturday 11 am to 7pm &
Sunday 9 am to 5 pm
130+ Exhibitors
August 25 & 26
Highland Park
35th Annual Port Clinton Art Festival
Central Avenue – 1st & 2nd Streets
10 am to 6 pm
265 Artists
August 25 & 26
Chicago
32nd Annual Bucktown Arts Fest
Senior Citizens Memorial Park
2300 N. Oakley Ave & 2300 W. Lyndale St.
11 am to 7 pm
200 Artists
SEPTEMBER
September 15 & 16
Park Forest
63rd Park Forest Art Fair
Downtown Park Forest
Outdoors – Main & Cunningham
Saturday & Sunday 10 am to 5 pm
September 1 & 2
Deer Park
Deer Park Art Show
Deer Park Town Center
20530 N. Rand Road
10 am to 5 pm
120 Artists
September 2 & 3
Lake Forest
Lake Forest-Lake Bluff 13th Annual Artisan Guild Fall Fair
Parking lots of Lake Forest Bank & Trust
Sunday – Monday, 10 am to 5 pm
45 exhibitors
September 3 & 4
Lake Forest
64th Annual Art Fair on the Square
Sponsored by the Deer Path Art League
Historic Market Square and Western Avenue next to the train station
10 am to 5 pm
180 Exhibitors
September 8 & 9
Mundelein
Mundelein Arts Festival
Kracklauer Park
100 N. Seymour Avenue
10 am to 5 pm
45 Artists
September 8 & 9
LaGrange
23rd Annual West End Art Festival
Held near the historic landmark Stone Avenue Station, along Burlington Avenue between Brainard and Spring Avenues
701 W. Burlington Avenue
Saturday, 10 am to 6 pm and Sunday, 10 am to 4 pm
75 Artists
September 8 & 9
Downers Grove
42nd Downers Grove Fine Arts Festival
Held on Main Street
10 am to 5 pm
50 Artists
September 8 & 9
Chicago
14th Annual Lakeview East Festival of the Arts
Intersection Broadway & Belmont
Saturday 10 am to 7 pm
Sunday 10 am to 6 pm
150 Exhibitors
September 15
Park Ridge
28th Annual Arts & Crafts Adventure
Hodges Park
101 South Courtland
9 am to 5 pm
50 Artists
September 15 & 16
Warrenville
Art on the Prairie Fine Art & Craft Fair ~ Music Festival
City of Warrenville Complex
Corner of Batavia and Butterfield Roads
Saturday, 10 am to 6 pm and Sunday, 10 am to 4 pm
50 Exhibitors
September 15 & 16
Chicago, Illinois
Printer’s Row Art Fest
On Dearborn Street, from Harrison to Polk
10 am to 5 pm
100 Artists
September 15 & 16
Naperville
33rd Annual Riverwalk Fine Art Fair
Downtown Naperville along the DuPage River
Eagle St and Jackson Avenue
10 am to 5 pm
140 Artists
September 15 & 16
Park Forest
63rd Annual Park Forest Art Fair
Downtown Park Forest
Presented by the Tall Grass Arts Assn.
10 am to 5 pm
90 Exhibitors
September 29 & 30
Highwood
3rd Annual Starving Artists Show
on Sheridan Avenue from Highwood to Webster
10 am to 5 pm
120 Artists
The Cultured Baby 