Labor Day is in the rearview mirror and pumpkin-spice lattes have hit coffee shops, but street fest season isn't over yet. Anticipated end-of-summer festivals including Renegade, Chipotle's Cultivate Festival and Guinness Oyster Fest are back, plus the city welcomes newcomer Festival of Joyous Rebellion to West Town. Take your pick from eight unique fests and make summer good to the last drop. kbernot@tribune.com | @redeyeeatdrink
When: 11 a.m.-7 p.m. Saturday and Sunday
Where: Division Street between Damen Avenue and Paulina Street
How much: Free to attend
Don't miss: The popular indie craft market returns to the Wicker Park-Ukrainian Village border with more than 300 vendors selling a rainbow of handmade goods ranging from jewelry to clothing to home goods and art. This year, Vintage Bazaar hosts a pop-up vintage market within the larger festival, Reckless Records and Chirp Radio provide the tunes and restaurants including Mana Food Bar, Antique Taco, Gaslight Coffee and more stave off hunger and thirst. The truly crafty can sit in on workshops by Lillstreet Art Center, Chicago School of Shoemaking and others.
Chipotle Cultivate Festival
When: 11 a.m.-7 p.m. Saturday
Where: Lincoln Park (2045 N. Lincoln Park West)
How much: Free to attend
Don't miss: This "food, ideas and music" festival returns to Chicago for a third year of chefs, musicians and local beer. Check out free cooking demos by top chefs including Paul Kahan (Avec, Blackbird, The Publican), Curtis Duffy (Grace) and Graham Elliot (Graham Elliot, "MasterChef") and order up brews by Goose Island, 5 Rabbit, Three Floyds, Founders, Jolly Pumpkin and Virtue Cider. The music is nothing to sniff at, either, with performances by Detroit's Dale Earnhardt Jr. Jr. (3:15 p.m.), SoCal rockers The Mowgli's (1:45 p.m.) and Seattle band Walk The Moon (6:15 p.m.). Oh, and if you need a chicken taco stat, Chipotle has you covered there, too.
When: 6-11 p.m. Friday (carnival only), 2-11 p.m. Saturday and Sunday
Where: 2600 S. Kostner Ave.
How much: Free to attend; carnival rides cost extra
Don't miss: Celebrate Mexico's independence from Spain with three days of food, carnival rides and Mexican bands. On Sunday, the fest is the end location of the 26th Street Mexican Independence Day Parade (noon) which travels along 26th Street from Albany Avenue to Kostner Avenue.
When: 11 a.m.-10 p.m. Saturday
Where: 2000 W. Roscoe St.
How much: $7 suggested donation
Don't miss: Back for a 15th year, this popular kickoff-to-fall fest returns with dark beer, live music and plenty of raw and cooked oysters. Alt-rockers Rusted Root (8:30 p.m.) top the bill, which also includes hip-hop/funk act Genevieve (7 p.m.) plus Irish dancers and musicians. Grab a Guinness-or another adult beverage-and oysters courtesy of Village Tap Bar & Grill (2055 W. Roscoe St.)
When: 4-10 p.m. Friday, 2-8 p.m. Saturday
Where: Buckingham Fountain, Grant Park (301 S. Columbus Drive)
How much: $10 designated driver tickets; regular tickets $29 in advance or $35 at the gate
Don't miss: With 345 global wines available for sampling, even the most indecisive drinkers should find something to like at this ninth annual wine tasting. Local caterer Hearty Boys and restaurants Taco Joint, Zapatista, Adobo Grill and others are on hand with food for purchase while the band Lloyd Dobler Effect plays in between wine demonstrations on the main stage.
When: Noon-6 p.m. Saturday
Where: 810 N. Milwaukee Ave.
How much: Sliding scale of donation ($5-$20 suggested)
Don't miss: Social justice meets the street at the inaugural Festival of Joyous Rebellion, which supports National People's Action Campaign, a network of grass-roots organizations that works toward national economic and racial justice. Spoken word, comedy groups, StoryCorps recording sessions and music from Afro-punk group Osekre & the Lucky Bastards (5 p.m.) and Chicago group Bassel and the Supernaturals (3 p.m.) provide entertainment while food trucks and other vendors keep your food and craft beer needs covered. Speakers on progressive activism also will lead discussions.
When: 5-11 p.m. Friday, noon-11 p.m. Saturday, noon-10 p.m. Sunday
Where: Lincoln Plaza (Intersection of Western, Lincoln and Leland avenues)
How much: Free to attend
Don't miss: Lincoln Square turns up the dial on its German heritage with this three-day fest featuring food, dancing, music, a parade and of course, beer. The program officially kicks off Friday night with a beer tapping at 7 p.m. and continues through the weekend, punctuated by the Steuben Parade at 2 p.m. Saturday along Lincoln Avenue between Irving Park Road and the fest site.
When: 1-10 p.m. Saturday and Sunday
Where: Oakley Boulevard and Superior Street
How much: $5 suggested donation
Don't miss: Live Ukrainian music, ethnic food and traditional dance performances set the stage for this low-key neighborhood fest hosted by Sts. Volodymyr and Olha Ukrainian Catholic Church.
UPCOMING FESTS: Sept. 11-13: Berghoff Oktoberfest - Loop; Sept. 13-15: RiotFest (Humboldt Park); Sept. 14-15: Crush in Old Town (Old Town)
See our full summer fest schedule at redeyechicago.com/fests.