Illinois Strawberry Festivals in 2024

Update for 2024:

It looks like most festivals are returning, aside from those that were killed off by the lockdowns of the past 2 years. That took a heavy toll on their finances. I am checking with them day by day, if you have an update for an, please tell me via the Feedback form.

Looking for a strawberry festival in Illinois in 2024? (just scroll down the page)There is no other listing as complete and current as this list, just updated! All the strawberry festivals in Illinois we can find are listed on this page! If you love strawberries, look for a festival near you below! And I'm always looking for more strawberry festivals! Please write me, if you know of any to add!  I update the dates as soon as the festivals publish their information, but you can always click on the links (usually the name of the festival) to see the current information on the festival's own website. 

Always click on the links to the festival to confirm this year's dates; weather and other conditions could cause a change at the last minute. They may change or cancel at the last minute. . If they don't have a website, call the phone number provided, but ALWAYS CONFIRM THIS YEAR'S DATES AND TIMES BY EITHER VIEWING THEIR WEBSITE OR CALLING.

Click here for the form to add a festival and have detailed information; or click here if you have general information and are not connected with the event!

Illinois 2024 Strawberry Festivals - Where, When and More Details!

Illinois

There are two general types of strawberry festivals 1) community festivals, usually organized by a church, school, local Chamber of commerce or a town and 2). Strawberry festival held at and by a farm

They are different in what they offer, so they are grouped separately. (of course not all states and areas have both. And following the festival listings are links to our easy to follow directions about making strawberry jam, freezing strawberries, strawberry pies and much more. 

Community Strawberry Festivals

• Arthur Illinois Strawberry Jam Festival - The First Saturday in June, typically starts on Friday with most events on Saturday, from 8 am to 5 pm
  Downtown Arthur, E. Progress St, Arthur, IL 61911. Phone: (217) 543-2242.  Free Strawberry give-a-ways all day long. Merchant Sidewalk Sales. Strawberry Pie Eating State Championship. Craft & Food Vendors. Pie Baking Contest. Strawberry Social, Touch a Truck (Sat. Only)Live Music.
• Canton First Presbyterian Church Strawberry Festival - Wednesday, in mid-May from 4:30 to 7 pm
  Presbyterian Church, 275 Linden St, Canton, IL 61520. Phone: (309) 647-1256. Tickets for a Strawberry Sundae, slice of cake and a beverage are $6 for adults and $3 for children aged 6 and under. They are also selling chocolate covered strawberries, jam and extra slices of cake. All proceeds go to support the life of the church. Tickets will be available at the door.
• Catlin Strawberry Festival - Saturday, Early June, usually the first Saturday (6 years running)
  Caitlin, IL. Email: ladiesofcatlin@gmail.com. ​Join us for food, vendors, music and fun at the annual Strawberry Festival. Children of all ages are invited to participate in the dunk tank, cake walk, bean bag toss, face painting, bounce house and obstacle course. We will also have a number of contests, such as limbo, hula hoop and bubble blowing. For a suggested donation, we will be providing hot dogs, Italian beef and strawberry shortcake and pie.  Catlin Strawberry Festival facebook page. This year, you will be able to enjoy the musical stylings of Logan Kirby from 10 to 11 am, Zach and Perry Dable from 11:15 to 12:15 pm and Live Thru Wednesday from 12:30 to 1:30 pm.  Car enthusiasts can enjoy an antique car show brought to us by Illiana Automobile Club from 10 to 2.  Afterwards, come join in the fun at the American Legion for drinks, live music and food from High on the Hog. Live music includes: Dixie Flyer Band from 3 to 5pm and House of Cards from 7 to 10pm.
• Elmwood Strawberry Festival - the first Saturday of every June; from 9 am to 4 pm
  Central Park, , 100 E. Main St., Elmwood, Illinois 61529. Phone: (309) 742-2351. Email: ElmwoodIllinois@gmail.com. Directions: 25 miles West of Peoria on Rt. 78. The Annual Car Show has returned, Click here for a link to our Facebook page. The Elmwood Strawberry Festival is an annual event held in beautiful downtown Elmwood with Strawberries, Strawberry Desserts, Crafts, Drinks, Various vendor items.Elmwood Strawberry Festival is an Annual Event held every first Saturday of June in Elmwood Illinois. Central Park at the corner of Main and Magnolia is filled with crafters and vendors as well as great food including lots of strawberry desserts and local entertainers
• Long Grove Strawberry Fest - UPDATE for 2022, Hasn't been held the past 2 years and there is no update for 2022 on their website about it, as of May 2022 - call them, email them or keep checking their website each June (Friday 12pm to 11pm, Saturday, 10am to 11pm, Sunday, 10am to 6pm; Admission: $5 per person per day, kids 12 and under get in free.
  Downtown Long Grove, 308 Old McHenry Rd, Long Grove, IL 60047. This is the granddaddy of Long Grove's signature festivals, drawing close to 50,000 visitors to the historic business district for the 3-day event. It is considered one of the premier outdoor festivals in the Chicagoland area. The pleasures of summer are celebrated with 'berry wonderful strawberry-filled and inspired treats. All ages flock to dipping stations for the chocolate covered strawberries, the fruit smoothies, ice creams, strawberry donuts, baked goods, as well as the farm-fresh berries themselves. There is free entertainment for all ages throughout the village, a classic car show, and more. Shops host a variety of strawberry-related activities. A wide variety of food vendors offer their delicious treats in addition to Long Grove's fine local restaurants. You can also enjoy a beer and a brat at the Lions Club Beer and Brat tent. Visitors are treated to FREE admission and FREE parking in municipal lots with additional parking available in the Midwest Bank Lot at Old Rt. 53 and McHenry Rd. and at the Long Grove Community Church on Robert Parker Coffin Road, west of town. Limited parking spaces are available at Mel's Marathon Gas Station at the main intersection of McHenry and Coffin Rds. (These lots charge for parking.) Area strawberry farmers sell strawberries, other produce and crafts at merchant booths throughout town. Strawberry shortcake, ice cream and other food is available throughout the day. Other activities include a parade, the Strawberry Stampede youth fun/competitive fitness footraces, a re-enactment of a 1921 bank robbery (in which the two suspects were killed) and numerous other activities. A street dance takes place on Saturday evening, the day before the festival, as the unofficial kick-off to the event. Call (847) 634-0888 or send E-Mail  to receive our color Brochure/Map Directory of Long Grove. Please mention the Web site when you call or write. Visit our Map and Directions page for travel information.
• Macoupin County Historical Society Annual Strawberry Festival -   late May or early June, Saturday and Sunday from 9 am to 4 pm,
  920 Breckenridge Street, Carlinville, IL, Museum Theme: Before the Internet: typewriters, telephones, writing tools. COME & VISIT OUR: Huge Craft Show - Toy Show - Antique Tractors - Cars - Antique Machinery - Antique Small Engine - Horse-Drawn Machinery - Country Church - 1 Room Country Schoolhouse - Country Store - Blacksmith Shop - Museums full of Macoupin History - Print Shop Fiber arts demonstrations of basket and rug weaving, blacksmithing, and broom making, The Agriculture Association will be serving food in their Pavillion, Food in the Red Barn with special menu items of chicken and noodles, strawberry shortcake, and homemade apple and rhubarb sauces, and featuring BBQ pork burgers and pork chop sandwiches  Spring Festival Theme: "Ladies' Accessories"
  Typical schedule from previous years:
  SATURDAY,
  7 am - 4 pm: Market
  7:30 am: Breakfast served in Red Barn (includes Biscuits & Gravy)
  9 am - 4 pm: Festival Activities and Crafts on Display - Museum (Anderson Mansion) Tours ($3 per adult & $1 per child age 6-11)
  10:30 am: Garden Tractor pullers weigh-in
  11:30 am: Garden tractor pullers competition FOR INFORMATION CALL 217-854-2850
  Noon - 3 pm: STAGE ENTERTAINMENT
  1 pm - Hymn sing at Church
  2 pm - Antique Tractor Parade
  SUNDAY,
  7 am - 4 pm: Market
  7:30 am: Breakfast served in Red Barn (includes Biscuits & Gravy)
  8:30 am: Morning Church Service at Country Church
  9 am - 4 pm: Festival Activities and Crafts on Display - Museum (Anderson Mansion) Tours ($3 per adult & $1 per child age 6-11)
  10:30 am: Garden Tractor pullers weigh-in
  Noon - 3 pm: STAGE ENTERTAINMENT
  1 pm - Hymn sing at Church
  2 pm - Antique Tractor Parade
• Melrose Chapel United Methodist Church 147th Annual Strawberry Festival - Early June, from 3 to 7 p.m. Friday and Saturday
  3600 Payson Road, Quincy, IL 62305. Phone: 217-224-1302. Email: mchapel@adams.net.. Serving cups of strawberries, strawberry shortcakes, strawberry sundaes and strawberry supreme, a combination of a shortcake and a sundae. Sandwiches, chips, drinks and baked goods also are available. People may eat at the church or carryout. See the Melrose Chapel UMC Strawberry Festival Facebook Page
• St. Jacob Strawberry Festival - Sunday, mid-May - May 15, 2022, from 11 a.m. until 4 p.m.
  239 W Main St, St Jacob, IL 62281. Phone: 618-644-2142. They will have Strawberry desserts,  ice cream from Stenkoenig Dairy, Music,  Crafters, Jump Houses, Children's Entertainment, Music. Join Us for Lunch: Brats, Hot Dogs, Chicken Kabobs, Strawberry Desserts. The festival sponsored by the St. Jacob United Church of Christ. Entertainment will be provided. Food with Hot dogs, pork burgers, brats, and strawberry desserts.  Strawberry pie, Strawberry crisp, Strawberries and ice cream, Strawberry soda, Strawberry soda float. Grilled brats, hotdogs, pork burgers. Sno cones and kettle corn. Live entertainment like Fred bird and local musicians. Jump houses and pony rides. Bike ride offered by Trailnet. All at the beautiful St Jacob IL park. Click here for a link to our Facebook page. Held outside at the St. Jacob Township Park and at the St. Jacob United Church of Christ parking lot. This is a family-friendly annual event that includes musical entertainment, jump houses, pony rides, face painting, and local craft vendors.
• Tiskilwa Historical Society Art and Strawberry Festival - June - see their website (nothing was posted in late May) UPDATE for 2024, Hasn't been held the since 2019 and there is no update for this year on their website about it, as of May 2024 - call them, email them or keep checking their website
  110 East Main Street, Tiskilwa, IL. Strawberries will be for sale on the shaded lawn of Museum. There will also be local artists, artisans, musicians and other town organizations, we will welcome the arrival of summer. Bring the family to enjoy children's games and art projects as well as ice cream, pizza, and special historical exhibits. See the Tiskilwa Historical Society Facebook page.

Farm Strawberry Festivals

In addition to community and church festivals, some private farms have their own strawberry festivals in June.  See each farm for this year's dates (they often do not announce them until the end of May). They usually have PYO strawberries then, too.  Also, scroll down to see the links to recipes, freezing, canning and jam making directions at the bottom of the page.

• Belleville Strawberry Festival at Eckert's Country Store & Farms - May , from 10 am to 5 pm certain Saturdays and Sundays - see their website UPDATE for 2022, There is nothing on their website about it, as of May 2022 - call them, email them or keep checking their website
  951 S. Green Mount Road, Belleville, IL 62220. Phone: (618) 233-0513. This is the weekend to share with family and friends. And what better place to share it than the family farm! Enjoy outdoor festival foods and live entertainment at this old-fashioned all-American festival. Kid's activities include pony rides, children's play area, petting farm, carnival rides, and inflatable. Fee charged for some activities. 10 am to 5 pm For more information call.
• Tom's Strawberry Fest - Father's Day Weekend UPDATE for 2022, There is nothing on their website about it, as of May 2022 - call them, email them or keep checking their website
  Tom's Farm, 10214 Algonquin Road, Huntley, IL 60142. Phone: (847) 669-3421. Email: contact@tomsfarmmarket.com. Join us for two-days of music, entertainment, u-pick strawberries, and food trucks on . The festival gates open at 10am on Saturday the 14th and 11am on Sunday the 15th til 4pm. Entertainment starts promptly (see schedule). Please feel free to join us for Yoga on the Farm at 9:30am.   This year is our second year and now we have a full event schedule, food trucks, a map, more volunteers, two wagons on rotation to the strawberry fields, and tons of entertainment for the kiddos. Click here for a link to our Facebook page.
  Face Painting - Find these artists in the big tent.
  Balloon Artist - You can find Zebra Zordan by the main stage.
  Magic - Find master deceptionist, Dennis Christie, rotating around the grounds.
  Yoga on the Farm - Join us mornings at 9:30am with Amanda.
  Bathrooms - Porta-Potties are available north of the food trucks and at the strawberry fields.
  Kids Stage- The kids stage is located by the main gate.
  Main Stage - The main stage is located in the grass field in Tom's backyard.
  Kids Play Area - The kid's play area is located west of the main stage.
  Wagon Rides for Strawberry Picking - Wagon rides start by the wind mill, near the main gate.
  Music While you Pick - We have DJ's playing toons from noon to 4pm in the fields.
  Food Trucks - Food trucks and vendors will be selling items from 11am to 4pm.
  Bakery - Baked items, including sandwiches and coffee is located by the main gate.
  Open: typical farm hours are Monday to Saturday from 9 am to 6 pm and Sunday from 9 am to 5 pm.
• Windy Acres Strawberry Festival - Usually held on the first two weekend each June from 10 am - 6 pm
  Windy Acres Farm, 37W446 Fabyan Parkway, Geneva, IL 60134. Phone: 630-232-6429. Email: WindyAcresFarmStand@gmail.com. Windy Acres is hosting our Strawberry Festival Saturday and Sunday,  Join us from 11 am - 4 pm each day. We will have Home Made Fresh Strawberry Shortcake, Lots of Freshly Picked Strawberries, and All Things Strawberry! (Pies, Bread, Jams, Soda and so much more) During Strawberry Fest, we will be grilling out - Brats, Burgers and Fresh Sweet Corn (11 am - 4 pm). Our Beer Garden will be open (11 am - 4 pm) and there will also be live music! Windy Hill Farm Illinois Facebook page.

Related Strawberry Information: Freezing, making Jam, Canning, Pies, Recipes and More

Also, see our pages on easy illustrated strawberry directions:

• How to freeze strawberries!
• Strawberry jam (with pectin) (uses less sugar or honey and less cooking)
• Strawberry jam (without pectin) (requires much more sugar and cooking)
• Strawberry (and other berry) jams without sugar
• Strawberry jelly
• Strawberry-rhubarb jam!
• Homemade strawberry ice cream (regular, low fat, nonfat, low sugar, vanilla and even gelato)
• Canning strawberries
• Make gourmet chocolate-covered strawberries
• How to make fruit juice -  strawberry and other berries
• Strawberry pie filling
• Easy Rhubarb-Strawberry pie
• Fig-strawberry jam
• Fig-strawberry jam, made with Jell-O gelatin

For other fruit and vegetable festivals, see this page!