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Outdoor Events You Don’t Want to Miss in Illinois

Illinois – home of the Chicago Cubs, the Willis Tower (one of the world’s tallest skyscrapers), and deep dish pizza. This state is a melting pot, including a mixture of farmland, urban life, and everything in between. While almost everyone knows someone from Chicago or something about this big city, you may not have paid much attention to the rest of what this state has to offer, or the outdoor events held here every year.

The summer months are coming up and there is no end to the vast number of outdoor events that will be taking place! While the Illinois weather can be a tad bit frosty during the winter months, the summers are full of sunshine, blue skies, and heat!

Pull up a seat under a tent and stay shady and cool at one of these most exciting outdoor events in Illinois!

Country Music Festivals

Ever heard of the Country Lake Shake Festival? It is probably safe to assume that it gets its name from the great lake, Lake Michigan. This country music show is a three-day event packed with musicians. With names like Miranda Lambert and Rascal Flatts, this is a sure to be a can’t miss event.

Music festivals have a way of bringing people together. Besides, what better way could you think to spend a long summer weekend than under a tent, on the lake, listening to some music?

The Illinois State Fair

This is one of the most popular and nostalgic outdoor events held in Illinois. Rides, cotton candy, balloon darts, and vendors of all kinds is what you will find at the Illinois State Fair in Springfield, Illinois. The capital city hosts this event every summer and it is packed with visitors. It should be mentioned that this fair has a ton of things to see besides just eating and riding. They have harness races, auto races, a petting zoo and other animal exhibits, and they even have musical guests.

The great news is that, despite the hot August heat, the Illinois State Fair has enough activities that take place under outdoor event tents to keep you shaded and cool. So, in other words, don’t stall your sun due to the summer sun.

Oktoberfest Chicago

Beers and brats. Brats and beers. Oktoberfest Chicago is a huge celebration of the German culture. There is German music galore and let’s not forget to sharpen our dance moves for the chicken dance!

Despite the substantial number of people these October celebrations bring out, there is something fun, about hanging out in long lines with friends and strangers, under the shade of an event tent.

Grand Illinois Bike Tour

Up for a bike ride? How about a really, really long bike ride? Then check out the Grand Illinois Bike Tour. This is an annual 300-mile, six-day bike ride that takes place in various places within the state of Illinois. This year the bike tour is travelling through the river valleys of the Rock River and the Mississippi River.

Are you into biking an average of 51 miles per day? The Illinois summer sun will be shining and the heat will be upon you, but that only means that you will fill with joy as you stumble upon the water tents. Set up to give you a break, these tents can offer you shade and much needed hydration!

DeKalb Corn Fest

Corn, corn, and more corn. The DeKalb Corn Fest brings corn galore! And people, too! This is one of Illinois’ annual outdoor events. In addition to corn, it is full of entertainment and music, carnival games and rides, as well as tent after tent of vendors and crafters. The corn boil is something you will not want to miss.

Why are these outdoor events so much fun?

Some people prefer to stay indoors in the comfort of their own home. However, many others love to hit the road to check out the latest and greatest outdoor events. Whether music festivals, corn festivals, food and wine festivals, or the state fair, being outdoors with others and taking in the sights and sounds can be thrilling. Why is that?

  • The cold Illinois weather causes us to stay indoors more than not. The sun almost seems to disappear during the winter months. However, when the summer months hit and the sun finally shows its face again, the atmosphere really heats up. Outdoor tent events give residents a chance to get outdoors but have a place to catch some much-needed shade, too!
  • Tents seem to always bring something fun. For example, at the Oktoberfest celebrations, there will almost always be beer tents. You will have a fun-loving group of individuals just enjoying their beer or waiting in line for another one. At the Illinois State Fair, tents are used for housing all kinds of animals! From pig races to goats in the petting zoo – everyone loves the animal tents!
  • At many festivals, outdoor tents house food – and lots of it! The tents protect the food from the weather elements, bugs, and other potential hazards or disasters. Food cookoffs, German food, Italian food, fresh pizza, sno-cone machines, cotton candy, deep fried Oreos, and donut burgers. These and many more are the types of foods you will find under the tent at an outdoor event. The food you eat may not necessarily be good for you, but the vendors are good to the food by keeping it safe under the tent!

You could choose to head out of town for a while this summer.  Or you can choose to fill up your calendar with festivals and events found all throughout the State of Illinois.

Thanks to tents, these outdoor events can still be enjoyable, despite the hot summer weather Illinois usually brings. So, what are you waiting for? Grab your friends and family, decide what it is that suits your taste – the fair rides, the corn tasting, scenic bike rides, etc. – and hit the road!

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