Celebrate Highwood Announces 2024 Series of Events

HIGHWOOD, IL (JANUARY 2024) –Celebrate Highwood is proud to announce its 2024 series of family-friendly festivals and events which includes: the weekly Wednesday Evening Gourmet Market, Kick-Off to Summer Carnival + International Mural Festival (a first!),  Inferno Fest (returns!), Margarita Night, Highwood Days with Taco Fest and the North Shore Taco Fun Run, Walk & Stroll, Garlic Fest, Bloody Mary Fest, Nashwood, Great Highwood Pumpkin Fest + Skeletons on Display and Pumpkin Town USA, Holiday Light Village, and the Elf Invasion Pub Crawl.

Details on Celebrate Highwood’s 2024 tried and true annual fan favorites, a return, and a new event are listed below:

• Highwood’s Weekly Wednesday Evening Gourmet Market

June 5–August 28, 4:30–9:30 PM, (no market July 3) Everts Park (111 North Ave.) (no market on July 3)

A weekly outdoor market of this caliber is hard to find. With its ‘Live Evening Concert Series’ and ‘Ravinia Festival-like’ atmosphere, Highwood’s Evening Gourmet Market is recognized as one of the best outdoor markets on the North Shore. With over 60 vendors each week, this Evening Market brings community together to enjoy delicious food and drinks, local wares, live music, and the great outdoors in a family festival setting.

• Highwood’s International Mural Fest (NEW!)

Thursday, June 6 – Sunday, June 9, Downtown Highwood Metra Station Parking Lot

Internationally recognized graffiti and street artists come to Highwood to create live mural art in this first ever Midwestern mural arts festival. Through vibrant murals and installations, prolific artists will showcase the richness, diversity, inclusivity, and creativity of the Highwood community. Engaging community art installations will also be created.

• Inferno Fest (RETURNS!)

Wednesday, June 26, 4:30 – 9:30 PM, Everts Park (111 North Ave.)

By popular demand, Celebrate Highwood is fired up to bring back Inferno Fest after a seven year hiatus, with spicy food and beverages to test the taste buds of the most fearless food enthusiasts!

• Margarita Night

Wednesday, July 17, 4:30–9:30 PM, Everts Park (111 North Ave.)

This festive theme night invites attendees to dress in their favorite Jimmy Buffet-style, Parrothead and Hawaiian gear to party to the sounds of a Jimmy Buffet tribute band. There will be beach balls, flamingos, margaritas, Mexican food, key lime pie and more!

• Highwood Days with Taco Fest, Thursday, July 18- Sunday, July 21

Highwood Days Carnival, Downtown Highwood Metra Station Parking Lot

Taco Fest, Everts Park (111 North Ave.)

Recognized as the City’s oldest festival, Highwood Days features one of the area’s largest carnivals, with rides, games, live music and more! The addition of Taco Fest brings together the region’s best taco-centric restaurants, caterers, and food trucks to offer a wide range of mouth-watering creations, along with full booze tents. Attendees will enjoy casting their vote for the People's Choice Award in categories of ‘Best Authentic’ and ‘Best Unique’ Tacos.

• North Shore Taco 5K Family Fun Run, Walk & Stroll

Saturday, July 20, 9 AM, Downtown Highwood

The public is invited to put on their sneakers and grab their family, friends, strollers and pets to join this fun run, walk and stroll. The course starts in Downtown Highwood and guides you along the beautiful lake front trail and through historic Fort Sheridan and then back again.

• Garlic Fest

Wednesday, August 14, 4:30–9:30 PM, Everts Park (111 North Ave.)

The smell of garlic brings people from near and far to this festive food-filled fest that showcases a plethora of dishes with the ever-popular taste (and scent) of garlic, with live music and plenty of family-friendly activities to entertain all evening long. Attendees come to sample a variety of sweet and savory garlic creations, from out-of-the-ordinary garlic-infused chocolate, cookies, ice cream, cupcakes, and cocktails, to the classic, savory options like pastas, sandwiches, sauces, and spreads. The Fest features a Taste of Garlic Competition for the best Savory and Sweet creations and the innovative dishes never disappoint!

• Bloody Mary Fest

Sunday, August 18, 10 AM-5 PM, Everts Park (111 North Ave.)

All hail the Bloody Mary! Celebrate Highwood is once again putting a spin on this fan favorite event, inviting all types of bloody mixologists to tempt taste buds with various types of tomato-based beverages combined with a variety of spirits, beer or other ingredients. From Micheladas, to Red Snappers (gin), Bloody Marias (tequila) and more, this event is perfect for fest goers with adventurous palates to sample their favorite spirit in a bloody-based cocktail. Vendors will compete for the Proud Mary Award.

• Nashwood

Labor Day Weekend, August 30 - September 1, Downtown Highwood

Watch Highwood transform into Nashville over Labor Day weekend. Highwood restaurants and bars will feature 100 free, live country, southern blues, classic and contemporary rock from beginning Friday happy hour and running all day and evening Saturday and Sunday. Attendees (21+) can purchase tickets to board the Cocktail Barrel Bus where they will enjoy cocktails and live music while on a one hour tour around Nashwood.

• The Annual Great Highwood Pumpkin Festival & Skeletons on Display with Pumpkin Town USA

October 4–6, Downtown Highwood (Community Night & Opening Carnival October 3)

The Great Highwood Pumpkin Festival and Skeletons on Display is the biggest outdoor celebration on Chicago’s North Shore featuring all-you-can-carve pumpkins, nightly lightings of pumpkin-filled walls, carnival rides, costume contests, trick or treating, two stages with live music and entertainment, hundreds of skeletons displays depicting the history of rock and roll, hayrides, food and beverage vendors and so much more! And, Celebrate Highwood will once again bringing Pumpkin Town USA back to Everts Park’s center, with wooden structures constructed showcasing whimsical themed displays lit up throughout the weekend and entire month of October!

• Elf Invasion Pub Crawl

      Saturday, December 2, 5:30 PM-Bar Close

Calling all elves to come out and get “Elfed Up’ at the Annual "Elf Invasion Pub Crawl." The public is invited to channel their inner elf, dress the part, and join a troupe of elves as they visit the City of Highwood’s most popular establishments to enjoy live music, food and drink specials, and raffle prizes.

• Holiday Light Village

November 15 – January 2

Post Pumpkin Town USA, decorated wooden structures in Everts Park serve as winter holiday inspiration for Highwood visitors to enjoy throughout the season as they patronize businesses and experience magic in Downtown Highwood.