With September now here and summer fun starting to fade into the sunset, the Elgin area is making a free fall into autumn with plenty of outdoor events and festivals on the horizon.

Here’s a list to keep handy.

The 16th annual Meadowdale Motorsports & Memories Car Show will be held from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 6, at Raceway Woods, 645 N. Western Ave., Carpentersville. One of the highlights will be an appearance by the Oscar Mayer Wienermobile. Cars that want to participate will pay a fee, but the event is free to attend. Food and beverages will be available to purchase. For more information, go to www.mirpa.org.
Rotary Club of Elgin’s “Summer’s Last Hurrah” is set for 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 6, in Panton Mill Park, 9 N. Water St., South Elgin. Food trucks, a craft fair, makers market, touch-a-truck zone, costumed pet parade, children’s activities and live music will be featured. Entertainment includes the Jesse White Tumblers and a performance by the School of Rock. For more information, go to www.rotary5000.org.

An arts and crafts show is one of many activities planned for the West Dundee Heritage Fest, being held Sept. 12-14. (Village of West Dundee)

West Dundee’s Heritage Fest in the village’s downtown will be held from 6 to 11 p.m. Friday, Sept. 12; 8 a.m. to 11 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 13; and 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 14. Highlights include a business expo, live music and food vendors daily; an arts and crafts fair Saturday and Sunday; a car show Saturday and Sunday; a 5k run Saturday morning; and a pancake breakfast Sunday morning.  For more information, go to www.wdundeeheritagefest.org.
Carpentersville’s El Grito celebration gets underway with a Mexican Independence Day parade from 11 a.m. to noon, followed by a festival from noon to 11 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 13, in Carpenter Park, 275 Maple Ave. The day will feature live Mexican music, food, beverages, merchandise vendors, kids activities and family-friendly games. For more information, go to www.cville.org/607/Fall-Fest.

A Mexican flag is hoisted into the air as part of the 2023 La Fiesta de Elgin, a Mexican Independence Day celebration held at Festival Park in downtown Elgin. (City of Elgin)

A Mexican Marketplace will be open from 10 to 6 p.m. along Riverside Drive as part of La Fiesta de Elgin, which takes place from 5 to 11 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 13, in downtown Elgin’s Festival Park, 132 S. Grove Ave. The gathering will feature live Mexican music, food and drink vendors, activities for children, a traditional call for independence and a fireworks display. There also will be a car parade that starts at 9 a.m. at Slade and Douglas avenues and ends at Douglas and Highland avenues. For more information, go to elginil.gov/2525/La-Fiesta-de-Elgin.
Carpentersville’s Fall Fest will be held from 10 a.m. to 11 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 20, in Carpenter Park, 275 Maple Ave. The event will feature live music, food and beverage vendors, a craft show, kids zone, petting zoo and other activities. For more information, go to www.cville.org/607/Fall-Fest.

Live music will be among the highlights of East Dundee’s annual Oktoberfest, being held Sept. 26-27 in the downtown area near The Depot. (The Courier-News)

East Dundee’s 7th annual Oktoberfest will be held from 5 to 10 p.m. Friday, Sept. 26, and 2 to 10 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 27, outside The Depot, 319 N. River St. In addition to German and other types of food being sold, there will be live music and family activities, including inflatables in a children’s play area. For more information, go to eastdundee.net/things_to_do/village_community_events/oktoberfest.php.
South Elgin’s Pumpkin Patch Festival will be held from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 4, in Seba Park, 151 S. Water St. The day will include a costumed pet parade, pyramid of hay, pumpkin painting station, craft show, inflatables, face painting, and a pumpkin decorating contest for local businesses and service organizations. For more information, go to www.southelgin.com/residents/special_events/pumpkin_patch_festival.php.

Mike Danahey is a freelance reporter for The Courier-News.

https://www.chicagotribune.com/2025/09/04/elgin-fall-events-festival-dundee-carpentersville-grito/