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May 2012  |  By kelly Konrad  |  Comments

2012 North Shore Festival Season

We Chicago-area residents know the drill: Spend nine months of the year wrapped in fleece and complaining about the cold and three months outdoors. Every. Single. Minute. Possible.

Here's a compilation of some of the North Shore's best events—some familiar, others worth getting to know. And don't forget to check our events calendar often for updates and additions.

June Events

Libertyville Days Festival
Downtown Libertyville
Thursday, June 14 - Sunday, June 17

It's one of the first of several old-fashioned community festivals on the docket with carnival rides, food, a beer garden, live music, art and crafts expo and more!

Hands of Hope: Barrington Country Garden & Antique Faire
Friday, June 15 - Saturday, June 16

Tour the gardens of three Outstanding Barrington Hills Estates. Shop the French Market — Fine Antiques and Boutique. Find Bargains at the Avant Garden Shop — An Upscale Flea Market.

Custer's Last Stand Art Fair
Chicago and Main streets
Evanston
Saturday, June 16 - Sunday June 17

350 Artists and craftspeople from across the nation come together on the third weekend of June every year to exhibit and sell paintings, ceramics, pottery, photographs, jewelry, graphic arts, wearable art, country and home craft, antiques and collectibles. They are joined by 150 local businesses and commercial exhibitors who put on an old-fashioned sidewalk sale.

Long Grove Strawberry Festival
Downtown Long Grove
Friday, June 22 - Sunday, June 24

All things strawberry! Plus, great live music and lots of great shopping opportunties.

Glenview Summer Festival and Street Sale
Downtown Glenview
Saturday, June 30

Come enjoy the 37th annual Summer Festival, complete with sidewalk sales, live entertainment, food vendors, artists and crafters, raffles and more!

2012 Fountain Square Arts Festival
Church Street and Sherman Avenue
Evanston
Saturday, June 25 - Sunday, June 26

It's one of the most prestigious art festivals in the Midwest—the Fountain Square Arts Festival has more than 250 artists and is the largest and oldest juried fine arts fair on the North Shore. The festival is located on six city blocks in downtown Evanston with the eponymous "Fountain Square" sculpture garden as its focal point.

Highland Park Festival of Fine Craft
Sheridan Rd. between Central and Elm
Saturday June 23 - Sunday, June 24

This is the 13th Annual Festival of Fine Craft in Highland Park sponsored by the Art Center.  The festival will feature exciting art from over 100 artists from across the US in many mediums including ceramics, jewelry, mixed media, wood, sculpture, glass and much more.

A Promenade of Art
Arlington Heights
Saturday June 23 - Sunday, June 24

Launched in 2003, the annual Promenade of Art has quickly become a popular fine art and fine craft festival. Along quaint streets that showcase a collection of upscale residential buildings, boutiques, and a variety of eateries, 150 juried artists display their work for over 25,000 attendees.

July Events

Chicago Botanic Garden Art Festival
Glencoe
Thursday July 5

One of the most beautiful settings for an art festival—find your perfect peice of art from one of 80 exhibitors, or at the very least, inspiration for art of your own!

Deerfield Family Days
Deerfield
Sunday July 3 - Monday July 4

Catch Independence Day fireworks at Brickyards Park in Deerfield, along with live entertainment. Saturday highlights at Jewett Park include the traditional pancake breakfast, a dog show, arts and crafts, an old-fashioned bicycle parade, 10K run, games and rides.

Northbrook Art in the Park
Village Green
Saturday, July 9 -  Sunday, July 10

It's art on the Green all weekend long, with opportunities to meet and talk with the artists in person.

Buffalo Grove Invitational Fine Art Festival
Buffalo Grove Town Center
Saturday, July 21 and Sunday, July 22

This year’s festival features a wonderfully chosen, juried group of approximately 150 artists: all thrilled to showcase their art to nearly 32,000 fest visitors.

2012 Glencoe Sailfest
Glencoe Boating Beach
Saturday, July 21

If you've always wanted to try sailing but haven't worked up the nerve, here's a free chance to give it a whirl. There'll be free sailboat demos and rides with Boat Club members, kayaking excursions, youth and adult regattas, a youth sailing clinic, hot dog lunch and awards ceremony. It's geared for kids 10 and up.

North Shore Festival of Art Old Orchard
Friday July 17  - Sunday, July 29
Skokie

It's a shopping two-fer—hit the fair, then the mall! Food, fun and fabulous art all in one spot.

Lake County Fair
Grayslake
Wednesday, July 25 - Sunday, July 29

County fair action in all its animal-loving, carnival ride, cotton candy goodness.

August Events

2012 Northbrook Days
Village Green Park, corner of Shermer and Meadow roads
Wednesday, August 1 - Sunday, August 5

A summertime tradition, Northbrook Days is five fun-filled days of carnival rides, games a "Taste of Northbrook" and a local business expo. Check their Web site for detailed information.

Glencoe Festival of Art
Glencoe
Saturday August 4 - Sunday August 5

This festival features fine crafts and arts among the boutiques and delicious cafes of downtown Glencoe.

Art at The Glen
Tower Drive, Glen Town Center, Glenview
Saturday, August 11- Sunday, August 12

Nearly 200 artists at this event, featuring live music as well, all set among great shopping and alfresco dining options!

Chicago Botanic Garden Kite Festival
1000 Lake Cook Rd.
Glencoe
Saturday, August 11 - Sunday, August 12

Playing with kites of all shapes and sizes is a childhood rite of passage. Don't miss this extraordinary opportunity to do so in a beautiful setting. The Chicago Fire Kite Team will be on hand, along with other professionals, ready to thrill and teach.

Long Grove Fine Art & Wine Festival
Downtown Long Grove
Saturday, August 18 - Sunday, August 19

Take the trip out to Long Grove for art, food and fun, in one of the North Shore's quaintest downtown shopping districts.

2012 American Craft Exposition
2379 Sheridan Rd., Evanston (Northwestern University)
Friday, August 24 - Sunday, August 26

It's a perennial North Shore favorite—the American Craft Exposition is not macrame beverage cozies and appliqued sweatshirts. It's a highly competitive, juried art event with a wide variety of media on hand. Metals, jewelry, leather, wood, decorative fibers and ceramics are just a handful of the categories represented. There's even a benefit preview to support ongoing breast and ovarian cancer research on the North Shore.

Skokie's 2012 Backlot Bash
Oakton Street and Lincoln Avenue, Skokie
Friday, August 24 - Sunday, August 26

What a way to wrap up a fantastic summer, with a classic neighborhood festival: free live music all three nights; carnival rides; a beer tent; silent movies at the Skokie Theatre; a 5K; bingo; classic car fest and more!

Port Clinton Art Festival
Central Ave., downtown Highland Park
Saturday, August 25, and Sunday, August 26

Visit the largest art festival on Chicago's North Shore: 260 artists, live music, great food! All centrally located in Highland Park.

Updated for 2012 by Samantha Kiersey