Labor Day Weekend 2026: Festivals, Live Music & Things to Do in the Near West Burbs and Chicago
- Paul Froiland
- Aug 19
- 12 min read
Updated: Aug 25
September 4–7, 2026 | Berwyn, Near West Suburbs, Chicago & Beyond
Labor Day weekend may mark the unofficial end of summer, but around Chicago,
festival season is nowhere near finished.
From September 4–7, you can catch four days packed with live music, carnival rides, Polish food, fresh Maine lobster, arts and crafts, fireworks, parades and some of the biggest suburban festivals of the year.
Whether you're looking for something close to Berwyn or you're willing to make a day trip, we've rounded up six of the best Labor Day weekend festivals around Chicago and the suburbs for 2026.
LABOR DAY WEEKEND
September 4–7, 2026
Labor Day weekend starts the fall festival season in a big way. You could spend the entire four-day weekend bouncing between festivals without running out of options.
MAYWOOD FEST 2026
Maywood | September 4–6
Kick off Labor Day weekend just a few minutes west of Berwyn at Maywood Fest 2026, a three-day community celebration at Maywood Veterans Park.
Admission is FREE, with three days of live music, food and retail vendors, carnival rides and community activities. Each day brings a different entertainment theme, from House Music
and HBCU celebrations on Friday to Latin and Hip Hop on Saturday and Gospel and R&B on Sunday.
Where: Maywood Veterans Park, 4th Avenue & Oak Street, Maywood, ILDates: Friday, September 4 – Sunday, September 6Admission: FREE
Friday, September 4
5:00–10:00 PM
Friday night kicks off the Labor Day weekend with:
HBCU
Divine 9
House Music
Specific performer names and individual stage times have not yet been published, so check with the Village of Maywood as the festival gets closer.
Saturday, September 5
12:00–10:00 PM
Saturday brings a full day of entertainment and activities featuring:
Latin music
Hip Hop
Local talent
Teen Zone
Sunday, September 6
10:00 AM–9:00 PM
Maywood Fest wraps up Sunday with:
Gospel
R&B
Annual Car Show
Getting to Maywood Fest
Maywood is an easy trip from Berwyn and the surrounding near west suburbs.
Public transportation is also an option. Maywood is served by Metra's Union Pacific West Line, with the Maywood station in the downtown area. From there, Veterans Park is roughly a short walk or ride share away.
Discover Berwyn Tip
Friday night for House Music, Saturday for Latin and Hip Hop, or Sunday for Gospel, R&B and the car show? Maywood has essentially created three different festival experiences over Labor Day weekend.
And with free admission, it's an easy festival to combine with another Labor Day weekend stop.
TASTE OF POLONIA 2026
Jefferson Park, Chicago | September 4–7
One of Chicago's biggest Labor Day weekend traditions returns for four full days of Polish food, culture, live music, dancing and family entertainment.
Taste of Polonia takes over the Copernicus Center in Jefferson Park from Friday, September 4 through Monday, September 7, with multiple stages running throughout the weekend.
And this isn't just a Polish music festival. The 2026 lineup mixes traditional Polish music and dance with rock, tribute bands, orchestral performances, movies, kids programming and plenty more.
Where: Copernicus Center, 5216 W. Lawrence Ave., Chicago
Dates: Friday, September 4 – Monday, September 7
Festival Hours:
Friday: 4:30–10:30 PM
Saturday: 11:30 AM–10:30 PM
Sunday: 11:30 AM–10:30 PM
Monday: 11:30 AM–9:30 PM
Children 12 and under are free
ENTERTAINMENT SCHEDULE
There is a LOT happening here. Taste of Polonia operates several stages simultaneously, so you'll want to look at the schedule before deciding when to visit.
🇵🇱 FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 4
Theater Stage
5:00 PM — Grand Opening of the Festival
5:30 PM — Lincolnwood Chamber Orchestra: Poland Remembered — Open Rehearsal
7:00 PM — Lincolnwood Chamber Orchestra: Poland Remembered
8:15 PM — Chicago Stories: Legendary Blizzards (WTTW)
9:15 PM — Chicago Stories: Iconic Foods (WTTW)
Tribute Stage
5:00 PM — The Polkaholics
6:30 PM — The PriSSillas
8:30 PM — Pink Talking Fish
Pink Talking Fish closes Friday's Tribute Stage with its mashup of the music of Pink Floyd, Talking Heads and Phish.
Kids Stage
5:30 PM — Zootopia
7:30 PM — Zootopia 2
🇵🇱 SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 5
Saturday is loaded from noon until late evening.
Theater Stage
12:00 PM — Pianoforte
1:30 PM — ABC Dance Academy
2:45 PM — Oberek & Co. Polish Folk Dance
4:00 PM — Polanie Song & Dance Ensemble
4:15 PM — Discover Chicago
4:40 PM — Polanie Song & Dance Ensemble
5:30 PM — Alexis Archer, Princess of Polonia
7:00 PM — Feel
9:00 PM — Ørganek
Tribute Stage
12:00 PM — The Wonderers
1:15 PM — Polka Generations
3:00 PM — Fuze
4:45 PM — The Fortunate Sons
6:30 PM — The Neverly Brothers
8:30 PM — Hi Infidelity
If classic rock is more your speed than traditional Polish music, Saturday night at the Tribute Stage is a strong choice.
Kids Stage
12:30 PM — Junior Jam
1:30 PM — Gen Ki Karate
2:00 PM — Egg Races with Prizes
2:30 PM — Taste of Polonia @ O'Hare: Ornament Workshop
3:15 PM — Minute to Win It Games
4:00 PM — Małopolska Bead Necklace Workshop
4:30 PM — Limbo
5:00 PM — The SpongeBob Movie screening
🇵🇱 SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 6
Sunday combines Polish traditions, international culture, live music and another strong Tribute Stage lineup.
Theater Stage
11:00 AM — Holy Mass
12:00 PM — Chopin Choir
12:45 PM — Ballet Folklorico de Chicago
1:15 PM — Discover Chicago
1:30 PM — Wesoly Lud Polish Folk Dance Company
2:00 PM — Chicago Cubs
3:45 PM — Wesoly Lud Polish Folk Dance Company
5:00 PM — Tribute to Violetta Villas
6:00 PM — July Trio7:30 PM — Mlynn Sea Shanties
9:00 PM — Michał Wiśniewski Akustycznie
Tribute Stage
12:00 PM — Keith Stras and Polka Confetti
1:15 PM — School of Rock Park Ridge
2:45 PM — No Turn on Red
4:30 PM — Chicago Tribute Anthology
6:15 PM — The Wayouts
8:30 PM — The Phil Collins Experience
Kids Stage
12:30 PM — Hoppers movie screening
2:20 PM — Dzika Fitness Dance Workout
3:00 PM — Małopolska Bead Necklace Workshop
3:30 PM — Storytime with JP-CPL
4:00 PM — Magical Myster AJ
4:45 PM — Egg Races with Prizes
5:00 PM — The Super Mario Galaxy Movie
🇵🇱 MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 7 — LABOR DAY
Taste of Polonia keeps going through Labor Day, with another full afternoon and evening of entertainment.
Theater Stage
12:00 PM — Chicago Stories
1:00 PM — Polonijna Orkiestra Chicago
2:00 PM — Juchasi Highlander Dance Group
3:00 PM — Mellow Honey
4:30 PM — Paid Vacation
6:00 PM — Michał Wiśniewski Akustycznie
8:00 PM — Ørganek
Tribute Stage
12:00 PM — Eddie Wojcik Tribute Band
1:30 PM — Johnny Russler & The Beach Bum Band
3:30 PM — Horizon
5:30 PM — 28 Days
7:30 PM — Slippery When Wet
Bon Jovi fans may want to make Monday night their Taste of Polonia visit - Slippery When Wet closes the Tribute Stage at 7:30 PM.
Kids Stage
12:30 PM — Dance Party
1:30 PM — Gen Ki Karate
2:15 PM — Egg Races with Prizes
2:45 PM — Limbo
3:00 PM — Dance and Sing Like a Highlander with Juchasi
3:30 PM — Dzika Fitness Dance Workout
4:00 PM — Taste of Polonia @ O'Hare: Ornament Workshop
4:30 PM — Minute to Win It Games
5:00 PM — Elio movie screening
🍽️ COME HUNGRY
Food is a huge part of Taste of Polonia.
Expect plenty of traditional Polish favorites alongside more familiar festival food, including dishes such as:
Pierogi
Polish sausage
Potato pancakes
Stuffed cabbage
Polish pastries and desserts
Beer
Festival food and snacks
👨👩👧👦 BRING THE KIDS
This is much more family-friendly than you might assume from a four-day music and food festival.
The dedicated Kids Stage runs programming throughout the weekend, with movies, games, crafts, dance activities, karate demonstrations, magic, workshops and contests.
And because children 12 and under receive free admission, Taste of Polonia can make for a surprisingly affordable Labor Day family outing.
🚆 GETTING TO TASTE OF POLONIA
Public Transit: YES — and it's a good idea.
The Copernicus Center is located in Jefferson Park, one of Chicago's major transportation hubs.
Jefferson Park is served by:
🚆 Metra Union Pacific Northwest Line
🚇 CTA Blue Line
🚌 Multiple CTA and Pace bus routes
Official Information
For tickets, complete festival information and any last-minute schedule changes, visit the official Taste of Polonia / Copernicus Foundation website before heading out.
NAPERVILLE JAYCEES LAST FLING
Downtown Naperville | September 4–7
This one deserves to be considered a destination festival.
The Naperville Jaycees Last Fling takes over downtown Naperville for four days with free concerts, a carnival, food, family attractions and the traditional Labor Day Parade.
Admission to the festival and main-stage concerts is FREE for 2026.
Where: Downtown Naperville, centered around Jackson Avenue
Festival Hours
Friday: 5–10 PM
Saturday: 10 AM–10 PM
Sunday: 10 AM–10 PM
Monday: 10 AM–6 PM
2026 Main Stage Schedule
Friday, September 4
5:00 PM — Sammy & The Knights
8:00 PM — Hairbangers Ball
Saturday, September 5
Noon — Physical Graffiti
2:30 PM — Whiskey Road
5:15 PM — Country 2K
8:00 PM — Hillbilly Rockstarz
Sunday, September 6
10:30 AM — Good Shepherd Church worship service
Noon — Tres Moustache
2:30 PM — Members Only 80's Band
5:15 PM — The Ron Burgundys
8:00 PM — Sixteen Candles
Monday, September 7
Noon — Rick Lindy and the Wild Ones
3:45 PM — Hi Infidelity
Labor Day Parade
The parade steps off Monday at 10:00 AM, traveling from the Naperville North area toward downtown and Naperville Central.
Public Transportation
Yes. Downtown Naperville is served by Metra's BNSF Line. The festival is farther south than the station but is reachable by walking, local transportation or a short ride share.
🦞 GREAT AMERICAN LOBSTER FEST
Navy Pier | September 5–6
Fresh Maine lobster, live music, Lake Michigan views and Saturday night fireworks come together for Great American Lobster Fest at the Navy Pier Beer Garden over Labor Day weekend.
Where: Navy Pier Beer Garden, 900 E. Grand Ave., Chicago
Saturday, Sept. 5: 1–10 PM
Sunday, Sept. 6: 1–8 PM
Admission: FREE
🦞 Food & Lobster Meals
Festival admission is free, and food and drinks can be purchased à la carte. For the full experience, advance Lobster Meal tickets include an approximately 1.25-pound whole lobster, corn, potatoes, roll, butter, lemon, a drink ticket and reserved communal seating.
Lobster meal sessions run 1–4 PM and 4–8 PM both days, with advance meal redemption closing at 7 PM.
🎶 LIVE MUSIC AT THE LAKE
Lobster Fest isn't just a food festival.
The Navy Pier Beer Garden has live music throughout the weekend as part of Navy Pier's Live on the Lake! concert series.
Saturday, September 5
4:30 PM — Gino Rockin' Romo
Navy Pier currently lists Saturday's live music window as running 4:30–9:45 PM, with additional programming still subject to change.
Sunday, September 6
3:00 PM — Donna Herula Band
6:05 PM — Mississippi Heat
🎆 Saturday Fireworks
Stick around Saturday night for Navy Pier's 10 PM fireworks show over Lake Michigan, a pretty great ending to a Labor Day Saturday.
Official Information & Tickets
Check Event Brite and the official Great American Lobster Fest website for Lobster Meal tickets, updated food vendors, entertainment changes and final event information before heading out.
🎨 FRANKFORT FALL FESTIVAL
Downtown Frankfort | September 5–7
One of the biggest arts-and-crafts festivals of Labor Day weekend returns to historic Downtown Frankfort with hundreds of artisans, food, live music, a carnival and the traditional Frankfort Fall Festival Parade.
The main arts-and-crafts festival runs Saturday through Labor Day Monday, but the carnival starts early on Wednesday, September 2.
Main Festival: Saturday, Sept. 5 – Monday, Sept. 7
Admission: FREE
Where: Historic Downtown Frankfort
🎨 Festival & Food Court Hours
Saturday: 10 AM–6 PM
Sunday: 10 AM–6 PM
Monday: 10 AM–4 PM
The festival Food Court, located between The Garden and Breidert Green, features local civic and nonprofit organizations serving BBQ, burgers, pizza, tacos, chicken, sandwiches, hot dogs, funnel cakes, Italian ice, smoothies, chocolate-covered treats and more.
Food Court: Saturday & Sunday 10 AM–6 PM | Monday 10 AM–3 PM
🎶 Breidert Green Entertainment
This is the family-friendly music stage near the Food Court.
Saturday, Sept. 5:
11 AM–1 PM — River Road Trio
2–3:30 PM — Bottomz UP
3:30–4 PM — Enrico's Spaghetti Eating Contest Finals
4:30–6 PM — Crawford's Daughter
Sunday, Sept. 6:
11 AM–1 PM — Fire Chicken Band
2–3:30 PM — Bandolier
4:30–6 PM — Shukin and the Ramblers
Monday, Sept. 7:
10 AM–12 PM — School of Rock Mokena Showband
1–3 PM — The Gina Martini Band
🍺 The Garden Entertainment
The Garden on North Oak Street has another full lineup.
Friday:
8–11 PM — Maggie Speaks
Saturday: 2–5 PM — The Handsome Jerks • 8–9 PM Acoustic Opener • 9–11 PM 7th Heaven
Sunday: 2–5 PM — Midnight • 8–11 PM Sundance
Monday: 1–3 PM — Frankfort Brass Band
Important: Friday night's Garden concert is 21+ and $15, with gates opening at 6 PM. Saturday and Sunday are free/all ages during daytime festival hours, but after 6 PM The Garden becomes 21+ with $15 admission.
🎡 Carnival
The carnival actually begins before Fall Fest:
Wednesday, Sept. 2: 5–9 PM — $37 unlimited rides
Thursday, Sept. 3: 5–9 PM — $37 unlimited rides
Friday, Sept. 4: 3–5 PM FREE Special Needs Day • 5–9:30 PM $37 unlimited rides
Saturday, Sept. 5: Noon–9:30 PM — ticket sales
Sunday, Sept. 6: Noon–9:30 PM — ticket sales
Monday, Sept. 7: Noon–5 PM — $37 unlimited rides
Individual ride tickets are 50¢ each, with discounted bundles available. Rides require 6–15 coupons each.
🥁 Fall Festival Parade
The traditional Frankfort Fall Festival Parade steps off Sunday, September 6 at 1 PM.
The 2026 Grand Marshals are Curtis Pascarella, President of Phillips Chevrolet, and his wife Donna and family, with Samantha Friend performing the National Anthem before the parade.
🎡 SCHAUMBURG SEPTEMBERFEST 2026
Saturday, September 5 – Monday, September 7 | Schaumburg
Schaumburg’s massive Septemberfest returns for Labor Day weekend with three days of live music, carnival rides, food, beer and wine, local entertainment, a parade, bingo and a spectacular Sunday night drone show.
Even better: festival admission, shuttle bus service and general-admission lawn seating for the musical acts are FREE.
🎶 Local Stage Highlights
There’s entertainment throughout all three days, with some surprisingly strong acts.
🎸 Main Stage Entertainment
All general admission lawn seating for Main Stage concerts is FREE.
Saturday, September 5
6:30 PM — Cheap Foreign Cars — Classic Rock Tribute
8:30 PM — Night Ranger
Sunday, September 6
6:30 PM — White Lion featuring Mike Tramp
8:30 PM — Warrant
10:00 PM — Festival Drone Show
Drone show rain date: Monday at 9:00 PM.
Monday, September 7 — Labor Day
10:00 AM — Schaumburg Labor Day Parade
5:30 PM — Krysten Knievel — Country & Rock
7:30 PM — Max Weinberg’s Jukebox
🍺 Craft Beer & Wine Garden Stage
Looking for something a little more relaxed? The Craft Beer & Wine Garden has its own acoustic entertainment.
Saturday: Chris Minardi One Man Jam • Live Pete • Acoustic Jukebox
Sunday: Sam Savage & Company • Rick Lindy and the Rockabilly Trio • Prairie Station Acoustic Duo
Monday: Chris Minardi One Man Jam • Strawdawg Acoustic Duo • Robbie Grabowski
There’s also strolling entertainment, including balloon artists, stilt walkers and a strolling magician during the weekend.
✨ Sunday Night Drone Show
One of the weekend's biggest attractions happens Sunday night:
Schaumburg Bank & Trust Company Drone Show
📅 Sunday, September 6
⏰ 10 PM
If weather forces a cancellation, the backup is Monday, September 7 at 9 PM.
🎟️ Bingo Tent
The Schaumburg-Hoffman Lions Club Bingo Tent runs all weekend for guests 18 and older.
Saturday: Noon–10 PM
Sunday: Noon–10 PM
Monday: Noon–9 PM
Cards start at $2 for one or $3 for three.
🎠 And There's Much More
Septemberfest also includes a full carnival, arts & crafts show, food and beverage vendors, beer and wine, the Labor Day parade and family activities throughout the weekend.
🍂 SO, WHERE ARE WE GOING?
That's the problem with Labor Day weekend around Chicago — there are way too many good choices.
But if you're trying to narrow it down, here's where we'd go:
🎸 Best live music lineup: Schaumburg Septemberfest — Night Ranger, Warrant, White Lion featuring Mike Tramp and Max Weinberg's Jukebox, with FREE general admission lawn seating.
🎶 Best all-around suburban festival: Schaumburg Septemberfest — big-name music, carnival rides, food, beer & wine, local entertainment, a Labor Day parade and a Sunday night drone show make this one tough to beat.
🇵🇱 Best food & culture: Taste of Polonia — Polish food, music, culture and one of Chicago's biggest Labor Day traditions.
🎡 Best in the Near Burbs option: Maywood Fest — an easy trip for carnival rides, food, entertainment and a full festival weekend without driving across Chicagoland.
🦞 Best Chicago day trip: Great American Lobster Fest at Navy Pier — lobster, lakefront views and live music right on the water.
🎨 Best for arts & shopping: Frankfort Fall Festival — a huge artisan marketplace combined with food, live entertainment, a carnival and one of the area's classic Labor Day weekend festivals.
🎆 Best Saturday night: Great American Lobster Fest + Navy Pier fireworks — lobster, live music, the Chicago skyline and fireworks over Lake Michigan is a pretty great way to spend a summer night.
✨ Best Sunday night: Schaumburg Septemberfest — White Lion featuring Mike Tramp at 6:30 PM, Warrant at 8:30 PM, followed by the drone show at 10 PM.
👨👩👧👦 Best for families: Schaumburg Septemberfest, Last Fling or Maywood Fest — all three give you enough rides, food and entertainment to make an entire day of it.
That's a pretty ridiculous amount of entertainment for one weekend.
And this is only the beginning.
Labor Day weekend officially kicks off our 2026 Discover Berwyn Fall Festival Series. We'll be covering Fall Fests, Oktoberfests, apple festivals, beer festivals and neighborhood celebrations around Berwyn, the near west suburbs and Chicago throughout September and October.
Save this guide, send it to your festival buddy and start planning the long weekend.
🍂 Looking for More Fall Festivals?
This is just one weekend of fall fun around Chicago and the western suburbs. Our 2026 Fall Festival Guide brings together the best festivals, Oktoberfests, live music, food events and community celebrations happening throughout September and October.
Subscribe to the Berwyn Insider newsletter and never miss what's happening around Berwyn and the western suburbs.
🍂 Coming Next
September 10–13: Glendale Heights Oktoberfest • German-American Oktoberfest • St. Cletus Fall Fest • Forest Park Fall Fest • West End Arts Festival • Countryside Bluegrass Festival
Get out. Explore local. Discover Berwyn.
Official Sources: Schaumburg Septemberfest • Naperville Last Fling • Taste of Polonia • Maywood Fest • Great American Lobster Fest • Navy Pier • Frankfort Fall Festival
