THIS WEEKEND IN CHICAGO – Celebrating the Autumn Season!

The transition is complete!  It’s time for a great line-up of fall weekend activities as Chicagoans celebrate the autumn season!!

More brats, more beer, more bands.  Oktoberfest Chicago is going to be bigger and better than ever as it returns for its 17th year to the West Lakeview neighborhood (St. Alphonsus Church, 1429 W. Wellington Ave.) this Saturday (11:00 a.m.-10:00 p.m.) and Sunday (11:00 a.m.-7:00 p.m.).  This popular Bavarian celebration features plenty of handmade bratwursts, cold beer, two stages of live music, arts & crafts, a craft beer tasting Saturday night, a “Kinderfest” for families and much more!  So, pull out your lederhosen and celebrate autumn!!

Usher in fall at the 30th annual Lincoln Square Apple Fest in the Lincoln Square neighborhood on Lincoln Avenue between Lawrence and Eastwood Avenues this Saturday and Sunday (9:00 a.m.-6:00 p.m.).  This perfect outdoor autumn outing features vendors selling apples, apple cider, apple pies and every sort of apple treat and confection imaginable! It also features live music, Giddings Gourmet chef demos, and lots of activities for the kids in their very own Kids Zone!  New this year is their first ever Apple Fest Apple Pie Bake-Off with prizes for the top two contestants, and Saturday (9:00 a.m.-10:30 a.m.) brings their 7th annual Pooch Costume Contest!!  There’s something for everyone at this fest!!!

Indulge in delicious grub at the Chicago Bacon and Beer Classic being held at the Daley Plaza (50 W. Washington St.) in The Loop this Saturday (12:00 p.m.-9:00 p.m.).  Try 25+ original bacon dishes from local chefs and/or eat unlimited bacon strips, sample 50+ craft beers from regional breweries, compete in the bacon eating contest, play giant Jenga and/or cornhole and more!  Choose from General Admission (1:00 p.m. or 6:00 p.m.) or VIP Tickets (12:00 p.m. or 5:00 p.m.) for your bacon and beer fix!!

Reap some harvest fun at the 3rd annual Fall Fest at Lincoln Park Zoo located in the Lincoln Park neighborhood (2200 N. Cannon Dr.) this Saturday and Sunday (10:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m.).  It’s a family friendly celebration with a Ferris wheel, a corn maze, hay mountain, an inflatable obstacle course, and more!  Animal chats, musical entertainment, a pumpkin patch, pumpkin carvers and fall-themed enrichment for the animals are also featured to complete your day of harvest fun!!

Get ready to engage your senses at the almost sold out Chicago 2017 Fall Whiskey Fest at the Trophy Room (170 W. Ontario St.) on the Near North Side this Saturday (4:00 p.m.-6:00 p.m.).  Enjoy an intimate setting with whiskey reps showcasing a few of their top brands along with food & drink specials, a special whiskey gift giveaway, and more!  It’s a celebration of September being Whiskey Month!!

The Fremont (15 W. Illinois St.) on the Near North Side is throwing the first and ONLY Chicago L Bar Crawl this Saturday (3:00 p.m.-9:00 p.m.).  Choose from either the Red, Blue, Brown or Pink lines.  Each L line will have its own separate bar crawl hitting the best bars around that stop, along with a designated party host that will lead you so you don’t miss your train!  Afterwards, all 4 L line crawls will meet-up at the Fremont’s extravagant rooftop bar for a huge party!!  Free goodies are included as well!!!

Love It or Hate It, Autumn is Here!