Craft Fairs & Farmers Markets in Illinois

Held in Chicago's Hyde Park neighborhood, the 57th Street Art Fair is the first major art fair of the summer season and draws over 20,000 visitors annually. Now in its 79th year, the fair runs along 57th Street between Woodlawn and Kenwood Avenues — all artists remain in their booths throughout the weekend to discuss their work. Live blues music stages the Buddy Guy's Legends lineup. Admission is free.

Annual harvest festival at Alto Vineyards (Shawnee Hills Wine Trail anchor).

Long-running Saturday market at Landmarks Blvd & Henry St in downtown Alton.

Neighborhood farmers market on N Berwyn Ave. LINK + Double Value Coupons accepted.

Held in downtown Algonquin, 40 miles northwest of Chicago along the Fox River, Art on the Fox is a juried arts and crafts festival showcasing original fine art and handmade goods. Running each September, the show draws 75 original artists with a variety of mediums including paintings, ceramics, glass, jewelry, and sculpture. Artists keep all sales income. Strong vendor support: on-site staff throughout the festival, booth sitting, free day and overnight parking, and overnight security. Artists can drive up to their booth space for loading.

Art on the Square is a juried fine art show held downtown at Veterans Memorial Fountain in Belleville. Running since 2002, it's been ranked in the top 1-2 nationally by Art Fair Source Book over ten times. Expect 100+ artists from 27+ states, live music, wine court, food vendors, and a Children's Art Garden with interactive projects. Free admission.

41st annual — one of the biggest festivals in Illinois Amish Country. Tens of thousands of attendees. Downtown Arthur blocked off with craft vendors, food, live entertainment. Features 300-lb cheese wheel ceremonial slice with free cheese giveaway, National Cheese Eating Championships, International Cheese Curling Championships, tractor pull, parade.

Amdur Productions juried art festival held each June in Highland Park. Part of Amdur's roster of prestigious Midwest art festivals running for over 43 years.

East-side Aurora farmers market on Eola Rd.

Part of the Sycamore Pumpkin Festival weekend, this juried craft show runs Saturday–Sunday in late October. Hosted by the Sycamore Music Boosters at Sycamore High School, it draws shoppers alongside dozens of carnival rides, food vendors, a parade, and community events spread across downtown Sycamore. Established festival crowd with strong foot traffic both days.

Amdur Productions juried art festival in downtown Barrington.

Boone County Fair in Belvidere is one of Illinois's largest county fairs, spanning 100 acres with livestock shows, home arts exhibits, vendors, and carnival attractions. The fair draws families and tourists looking for traditional county fair experience — a solid vendor opportunity in mid-August.

Held in Mt. Sterling, the Brown County Fair is the oldest continuously running county fair in Illinois. Established in 1872, this 153rd-edition fair features agricultural exhibits, livestock competitions, harness racing since 1878, arts & crafts, food vendors, live entertainment, demolition derby, tractor pull, and rodeo. A mainstay for community engagement with strong emphasis on traditional fair programming.

Since 1855, the Bureau County Fair is the longest running fair in Illinois, held each late August in Princeton. The fair emphasizes livestock and agricultural exhibits, with grandstand entertainment and community programming throughout the event.

Burr Ridge Art Fair is an Amdur Productions juried art fair held in Burr Ridge Village Center each August.

Annual Calhoun County Fair (Illinois river peninsula, apple orchard country).

Weekly Sunday farmers market at Metra parking lot.

Held in downtown Champaign at Neil & Main every Tuesday in May through October, the Champaign Farmers Market is operated by The Land Connection. The market emphasizes fresh, local foods and value-added products using local ingredients, with all items directly homegrown, handmade, or created from locally owned operations within 150 miles of Champaign-Urbana. Vendors offer meat, poultry, eggs, vegetables, fruit, microgreens, baked goods, bread, desserts, flowers, and herbal products, dog treats, and more. Approved items include produce, flowers/plants, meat, dairy, baked goods/prepared foods, wine, beer and spirits.

Held in downtown Aurora at RiverEdge Park, Christkindlmarket Aurora returns for its 4th year, run by German American Events. More than 60 vendors sell handcrafted ornaments, toys, and holiday gifts as well as traditional German food, sweets, and drinks —think bratwurst, schnitzel, and mulled wine. Vendor eligibility is strict: products must be handmade, high-quality, unique, traditionally German or European, and ethically produced. No MLM, wholesale, licensed brands, weapons, or hateful content. Pop-up booth rentals available for 1–7 days.

Held at Daley Plaza in Chicago's Loop, Christkindlmarket is an annual Christmas market running mid-November through December 24. First held in 1996 by the German American Chamber of Commerce of the Midwest, the market draws more than 1 million visitors each year. Vendors from Germany, Ukraine, Austria, and the Chicago metropolitan area sell beer, wine, baked goods, meats, toys, holiday ornaments, and other Christmas decorations. The market features more than 50 vendors selling food, beverages and handcrafted holiday gifts. German-style offerings include gift vendors, food stalls and spiced glühwein. It's free admission and draws strong foot traffic from both locals and tourists.

Inspired by the Christkindlesmarkt in Nuremberg, Germany, which began in 1545, Christkindlmarket Wrigleyville brings a cherished German and European tradition with international flair and local charm to Gallagher Way, 3635 N Clark St —adjacent to Wrigley Field. Since 1996, German American Events, LLC, a subsidiary of the German American Chamber of Commerce of the Midwest, has hosted Christkindlmarket Chicago as a free admission event; the Wrigleyville location expanded to this site in recent years. Looking for handmade, high-quality, unique European and traditionally German products for gift-giving—ornaments, nutcrackers, pottery, carvings, wreaths, holiday decor, plus food vendors offering sausages, potato pancakes, and strudel. No mass-produced goods, multi-level marketing, or wholesale distributors. Rolling application process; The Christkindlmarket Team will review all registrations on a rolling basis and get in touch with more information on the next steps.

Clay County Fair is held each July in Flora and draws vendors across agricultural, craft, and food categories typical of Illinois county fairs.

Part of the Sycamore Pumpkin Festival in Sycamore, Illinois, the Cornerstone Craft Show draws shoppers during a community-wide celebration that spans four days in late October. The craft show runs Saturday during the festival weekend at ACS/Cornerstone Campus and sits alongside multiple other craft venues, food vendors, parades, carnivals, and entertainment throughout the town.

Weekly Saturday market at Depot Park.

Annual Cumberland County Fair.