It’s Finally Summer: Fairs & Festivals in 2021

Fairs & Festivals Peoria Illinois 2021

The 2021 Summer Fairs & Festivals season is beginning, although it won’t be exactly the same as pre-COVID years.  For an update on the Peoria area’s fairs and festivals with dates and details of what will or won’t be included this year, keep reading.

Peoria Park District’s “Parks on Tap” mobile beer tap van will make its first appearance of the summer in lower Bradley Park near the playground equipment and tennis courts.  Because of the fact that the usual riverfront concerts will not be happening this year, the PPD has created this new series for the summer of 2021.  The van with its beer taps along with food trucks and acoustic musicians and/or WWCT’s DJs will be open from 4 pm – dusk for 5 weekends this summer.  The first is May 27 & 28 at Bradley Park, then on June 10 & 11, it will be at Detweiller Park.  On June 24 & 25, you can catch Parks on Tap at Grand View Park.  On July 8 & 9, it will be at Cassidy Park and the last one will take place on July 22 at Bicycle Safety Town.  For more details, visit https://parksontap.org

Mackinaw Valley Vineyard’s International Music, Wine, and Craft Beer Festival will happen with all the elements it normally includes.  There will be live music by several area bands, wine, craft beer, and Artisan cheese tasting plus food concessions by the Lions Club.   For more details, visit  https://www.mackinawvalleyvineyard.com

Washington Good Neighbor Days, normally held in early June, will be a summer-long celebration in 2021 being called “Good Neighbors Summer” by the Washington Chamber of Commerce.  The first event in the celebration is the Friday, May 28 Live at Five Points concert featuring The Unemployed Architects.  There are several other events throughout the summer that are included.  For full details, visit https://www.facebook.com

The Summer Camp Music Festival is normally held on Memorial Day weekend, but this year will be held on August 20 – 22 at Three Sisters Park in Chillicothe.  On a related note, the annual Peoria Blues & Heritage Festival normally held on Labor Day weekend also promoted by Jay Goldberg Entertainment, will not be happening in 2021.  Tickets for Summer Camp are on sale along with full details at https://summercampfestival.com

Tailgate & Tallboys 2021The Tailgate and Tallboys Music Festival is back again this year, but not at the Peoria riverfront.  It will be held at the Louisville Slugger Sports Complex on June 3 – 5.  Find full details and tickets at https://www.tailgatentallboys.com/peoria

The Elmwood Strawberry Festival will be held on Saturday, June 5 in Central Park in Elmwood from 9 am – 4 pm.   They’ll have live entertainment, food (including lots of strawberry favorites) plus a craft show, vendors, and a pancake breakfast.  For full details, visit https://www.facebook.com/elmwoodstrawberryfest

The Canton Art on Main Fine Art Festival will take place on Saturday, June 5 from 9 am – 4:30 pm, and on Sunday, June 6 from 9 am – 3 pm in Jones Park in Canton.  There will be a fine art exhibit, sale, and demonstrations. live music, free art activities, local food and wine featuring 32 artist booths.  For more details, visit https://www.facebook.com

Normally held the first weekend of June is the Holy Family Heritage Days Festival which will not take place this year.  They are hosting a fundraising raffle plus a Ribs and Ribeyes dinner to be held in the parking lot between the school and church on Friday, June 18.  For more details, visit https://church.peoriaholyfamily.com

The Peoria Bach Festival will happen this year, although it will still be live-streamed, not in person.  Dates are Wednesday, June 9 through Sunday, June 13 (although there are no events on Saturday).  All events are free and will be available on the organization’s Facebook page and on their YouTube channel.  For a full schedule, a listing of artists who will perform, and other information about the Festival, visit https://www.peoriabachfestival.org

The Tremont Turkey Festival will take place mostly as usual this year now that many COVID restrictions have been lifted by the state of Illinois.  Dates are June 10 – 13 and it will take place in downtown Tremont.  The carnival rides will be running this year, which was originally not going to happen due to restrictions, but that was lifted a short time ago and they will have that in place by the time of the Festival.  For full details about the Turkey Festival, visit http://turkeyfestival.com

Sommerfest hosted by the Peoria German American Society will take place at Hickory Grove Park on Saturday, June 12 from Noon – 8 pm. A family-friendly event featuring German food, soccer, German car and bike cruis’n, arts and crafts plus live entertainment, for more details, visit https://www.peoriagermans.net

Formerly known as Claud-Elen Days, the Chillicothe Chamber of Commerce has taken on the event to continue the tradition of the carnival.  Now called Chillicothe Days, the event will be held June 16 – 19 in Chillicothe City Park.  For more information, visit https://www.facebook.com

The Steamboat Days Festival, normally held the weekend of Father’s Day will not take place this year along with many of the other riverfront events and concerts normally hosted by the Peoria Park District.  These events include the Peoria RiverFront Jazz Festival and the Central Illinois BBQ Throw Down which also will not be held in 2021.   Several of the later season’s annual riverfront festivals will be held (please see more details below).

The Moss Avenue Sale & Festival, normally held the Saturday of Father’s Day weekend will instead be held on Saturday, September 11 from 9 am – 3 pm this year.  For more details, visit https://www.facebook.com

This year’s Red, White & Boom Independence Day festivities are not happening this 4th of July, however, the organizers hope that it will happen later in the summer or early fall.  For updates, visit the Peoria Park District’s Riverfront Events Facebook page.

Heart of Illinois FairThe HOI Fair will happen this summer on July 13 – 17 at Expo Gardens including a carnival, the various agricultural events as well as the HOI Fair Pageant where a Queen, Junior Miss, and Little Miss will be selected.  The deadline to register to compete in the pageant is June 1.  For more information, visit https://www.facebook.com/MissHOIFQueen

The Mackinaw Valley Vineyard Art & Wine Festival will take place on Sunday, July 17 featuring local artists who specialize in ceramics, glass, wood, metalwork, jewelry, oil painting, and fiber.  Food concessions will be offered by the Mackinaw Lions club along with live entertainment by Greg Williams.  For more information, visit https://www.mackinawvalleyvineyard.com

Fiesta en el Rio will take place on the Peoria Riverfront on July 31 on the Peoria riverfront.  Other festivals scheduled to happen at the Peoria riverfront this summer include River City Soul Fest on August 6 – 7, India Fest on August 21, Peoria Irish Fest on August 26 & 27, Oktoberfest on September 17 – 19, and the Peoria Art Guild Fine Art Fair on September 25 and 26.

The St. Philomena Festival, normally held the first full week of August is still being planned.  When more information is available regarding this event, this article will be updated.

Taste of Peoria has been postponed to August 11 and will be held at Northwoods Mall.  This will be the 40th anniversary of this Peoria event.

Illinois State Fair 2021The Illinois State Fair will take place August 12 – 22 in 2021.  Grandstand shows include Sammy Hagar & The Circle, Badflower, Kane Brown, Gabriel “Fluffy” Iglesias, Toby Keith, The Traveling Salvation Show (a Tribute to Neil Diamond), Chris Young, the I Love the 90’s Tour, Badflower, the USAC Bettenhausen 100, the ARCA 100 + Sportsman Nationals and George Thorogood and tickets are on sale now along with full details about the Fair at https://www2.illinois.gov/statefair 

Normally held on the Sunday of the 2nd or 3rd weekend of August, the Italian American Festa, according to the organization’s website, the event is planned to happen in 2021.  More details will be posted here when this information is finalized.

The Mackinaw Valley Vineyard Annual Grape Stomp & Harvest Festival will be held on Sunday, Sept. 5 from Noon – 6 pm.  This event includes live entertainment, a Lucy-style grape stomp plus wine tasting.  For more information, visit https://www.mackinawvalleyvineyard.com

Pekin Marigold FestivalThe Pekin Marigold Festival will be held on September 9 through the 12.  More details will be posted here when they become available or visit https://www.pekinchamber.com/marigoldfestival.html

The 55th Annual Morton Pumpkin Festival will be held from September 15 through 18.  For full details, visit https://www.mortonpumpkinfestival.org

To keep updated on these events and much more, visit our Events Calendar!