Focus on Food Festivals | May 2016
As you will see below, when it comes to food (and beverage) festivals, May is definitely a month for beer and wine lovers!
Once you have reviewed the basics below, check out the event websites for additional information. Be sure to visit any event beneficiaries online to learn more about whom you will be helping.
Please visit the Food Festivals page to find more upcoming events.
Chicago Beer Classic
Date: May 7, 2016Time:
Session 1
11:00 a.m.–2:30 p.m. (VIP)
11:30 a.m.–2:30 p.m. (General Admission)
Session 2
3:30 p.m.–7 p.m. (VIP)
4 p.m.–7 p.m. (General Admission)
Location: Soldier Field, 1410 South Museum Campus Drive, Chicago
Admission:
General Admission — $65 ($75 at the door)
VIP — $85 ($95 at the door)
Designated Driver — $25
Event Website: Chicago Beer Classic
Event Beneficiary: Chicago Beer Classic partners with St. Jude Children's Research Hospital. There is an opportunity to donate when purchasing tickets.
There will be almost 100 breweries at this year's Chicago Beer Classic, including more than 20 from Chicago! After sampling, vote for your favorite and help crown the Most Valuable Brew! Would you like to know how the tasty beverage is made? Stop by one of the education stations and learn directly from the brewers how world-class beer is created.
Andersonville Wine Walk
Date: May 15, 2016Time: 3 p.m.–6 p.m.
Location: Check in at Swedish American Museum, 5211 North Clark Street, Chicago
Admission:
North Route — $37.22 ($35 ticket + $2.22 service fee)
South Route — $37.22 ($35 ticket + $2.22 service fee)
Price increases May 9.
Event Website: Andersonville Wine Walk
Event Beneficiary: Andersonville Chamber of Commerce
Whether you choose the North Route or South Route, you will be able to visit 12 businesses that have been transformed into wine-tasting destinations. Each route will feature 36 wines for you to sample with your one-of-a-kind commemorative glass!
Beer Under Glass
Date: May 19, 2016Time:
5:30 p.m.–9:30 p.m. (VIP)
6:30 p.m.–9:30 p.m. (General Admission)
Location: Garfield Park Conservatory, 300 North Central Park Avenue, Chicago
Admission:
General Admission — $60
VIP — Tickets are sold out.
Event Website: Beer Under Glass
Event Beneficiary: Garfield Park Conservatory
Stroll through Garfield Park Conservatory's eight indoor display houses and outdoor gardens while enjoying craft brews and delicious small plates from Chicagoland breweries and local restaurants!
Chicago Craft Beer Week
Date: May 19–29, 2016Time: Various (see the Chicago Craft Beer Week website for details)
Location: Various (see the Chicago Craft Beer Week website for details)
Admission: Various (see the Chicago Craft Beer Week website for details)
Event Website: Chicago Craft Beer Week
Eleven days dedicated to celebrating craft beer! Visit the Chicago Craft Beer Week website to check out all the events.
Lincoln Park Zoo Food Truck Social
Date: May 21, 2016Time: 6:30 p.m.–10:30 p.m.
Location: Lincoln Park Zoo, east of North Stockton Drive and west of North Cannon Drive, Chicago
Admission: This year's event is sold out.
Event Website: Lincoln Park Zoo Food Truck Social
Event Beneficiary: Lincoln Park Zoo
Satisfy your hunger with a wide variety of food available for purchase from more than 30 food trucks, all while enjoying after-hours access to the zoo, fun activities, and live music.
Lincoln Park Wine Festival
Date: May 21–22, 2016Time: 1 p.m.–6 p.m.
Location: Jonquil Park, 1001 West Wrightwood Avenue, Chicago
Admission:
General Admission — $54.63 ($50 ticket + $4.63 fee)
VIP — $81.31 ($75 ticket + $6.31 fee)
Two-Day Tasting Package — $97.33 ($90 ticket + $7.33 fee)
Designated Driver — $22.60 ($20 ticket + $2.60 fee)
Event Website: Lincoln Park Wine Festival
Event Beneficiary: Wrightwood Neighbors Association
Enjoy an afternoon in the park, which will be transformed into an open-air market featuring wine and food pavilions, artisan booths, and vendors selling wine-related products. If you want to learn more about the various wines, brand ambassadors and sommeliers will be available to share their knowledge.
Mole de Mayo Festival
Date: May 27–29, 2016Time:
5 p.m.–10 p.m. (Friday)
12 noon–10 p.m. (Saturday)
12 noon–10 p.m. (Sunday)
Location: West 18th Street from South Ashland Avenue to South Loomis Street, Chicago
Admission: Suggested $5 donation for individuals and $10 for families
Event Website: Mole de Mayo Festival
Event Beneficiary: Eighteenth Street Development Corporation
During the festival, local restaurant chefs will compete in an outdoor mole cook-off for Mole de Mayo's Best Mole Award and the People’s Choice Award. Along with the traditional mole booths, the festival will have two stages of musical entertainment, visual artists, traditional Azteca danza, and much more!
What is mole, you ask? Mole (pronounced moe-le) is a traditional Mexican sauce typically made of chili peppers, spices, nuts, chocolate, and various seasonings. Mole comes in a variety of flavors and ingredients, but the classic mole version is a dark red or brown sauce served over various types of meats or enchiladas. Mole is said to originate from three different states in Mexico and is a staple in most Mexican households.
Welles Park Craft Beer Fest
Date: May 28, 2016Time:
12 noon–5 p.m. (VIP)
1 p.m.–5 p.m. (General Admission)
Location: Welles Park, 2333 West Sunnyside Avenue, Chicago
Admission:
General Admission — $63.09 ($60 ticket + $3.09 service fee) ($70 at the door)
VIP — $83.79 ($80 ticket + $3.79 fee)
Event Website: Welles Park Craft Beer Fest
Spend the afternoon enjoying craft beer and entertainment in beautiful Welles Park located in Chicago's Lincoln Square neighborhood. Food will be available for purchase.