Skip to main content

Plan an Unforgettable Labor Day Weekend in Illinois - Top Attractions & Events | Travel Illinois


 From Enjoy Illinois

Saving the best for last: There's still time to enjoy summer in Illinois

There are plenty more activities on Illinois’ summer schedule, and you’re invited to join in on the fun! From Labor Day festivals to outdoor escapes and farm-to-table bites, Illinois serves up something special in every corner of the state.

Finish summer on a high note

Keep the summer vibes going by making this Labor Day weekend one to remember. Explore a variety of fun festivals where you can find live music, delicious food and more!

Chicago has an important jazz legacy, and attending the Chicago Jazz Festival is the best way to experience it! Since the 1970s, thousands have made the pilgrimage each year to listen, dance, picnic, and enjoy the waning days of summer in the company of local jazz talents and world-famous names. The festival is free to attend and aims to raise awareness and appreciation for one of the city’s most beloved art forms.

Send off summer in small-town style! Lake in the Hills’ Summer Sunset Festival is home to all kinds of fun: a carnival, car show, parade, craft fair, live music and wine tasting. Plus, there’s a pickleball competition, so be sure to practice your tossing technique! Yes, you’ll remember these dog days of summer for many years to come.



Feast at fantastic farmers' markets

While National Farmers Market Week took place in early August, Illinois' abundance of delicious farm-to-table finds aren't going anywhere. Explore the incredible variety on offer throughout the state—your taste buds will thank you!

The Land of Lincoln is also the land of soybeans, wheat, oats and an array of fruits, vegetables and meats. The farm-to-table movement has put the state’s artisanal food producers in the spotlight, and some of the best opportunities to meet these growers and purveyors are at Illinois’ farmers’ markets. Find some of the state’s most diversely abundant markets from Chicago to Carbondale and beyond.

Chicago’s Green City Market was founded by chef/author/entrepreneur Abby Mandel in 1998 as a gathering of local growers in an alleyway next to the Chicago Theatre in the Loop. Nowadays, a visit to the Lincoln Park, Avondale, or West Loop markets on Wednesdays from May to October offers attendees a wide variety of options. Hundreds of farmers and food purveyors from across the region set up shop, selling everything from in-season fruits and veggies to meat, seafood, butter, cheese, eggs and ready-to-eat treats.



Kankakee River Valley Regatta

Join us for the annual Labor Day weekend River Valley Regatta power boat races in Kankakee! Experience the thrill of outboard performance craft power boat racing on the Kankakee River. Don't miss your chance to see skilled racers compete for the championship title!



Central Park Market

Join us at this year's Central Park Market, an event hosting 60+ vendors from central Illinois! Enjoy live music, entertainment, and local downtown businesses. Experience the unique charm of Jacksonville!

The Central Park Market is an open-air vendor market event where we will have over 60 maker, baker, grower and small boutique vendors from all over central Illinois. This multiday event located in the heart of Jacksonville, Illinois will feature live music performed by Joel Honey, along with other entertainment! Our local downtown businesses will also remain open so feel free to stop by to get a taste of what Jacksonville has to offer!


Check Out:


Did you know that Chicago was named for a wild onion? Or that the only president born in Illinois was Ronald Reagan? Or that the Ferris Wheel, processed cheese, the game of softball, the fly swatter, and the automatic dishwasher were all invented by Illinoisans? You'll find these stories and hundreds more in , an entertaining and revealing tour of the Prairie State's historical places.
Native Illinoisan Stan Banash describes the state's diverse history as he guides readers along its highways and byways, sometimes tracing routes with a history of their own (the Old Cumberland Road, the Trail of Tears, the Lincoln Highway, and U.S. Route 66, for examples). The engaging text is enhanced with 120 historical and modern photos, along with a map for each region. Old-timers, newcomers, and visitors alike will love this info-packed history.



Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment