Schaumburg Septemberfest

The 55th Annual Schaumburg Septemberfest returns to Illinois’ northwest suburbs from Friday, September 5, through Sunday, September 7, 2026, transforming the grounds of the Al Larson Prairie Center for the Arts and Robert O. Atcher Municipal Center into three days of carnival lights, live music, and Labor Day weekend tradition. This beloved celebration—which has drawn crowds since 1971, when it first took root at Campanelli Park before migrating to its current home in 1980—now welcomes over 100,000 visitors each year to experience one of Chicagoland’s most enduring community festivals. Admission, shuttle bus service, and general admission lawn seating for all musical performances remain completely free, a commitment to accessibility that has defined Septemberfest from its earliest days.

The village that hosts this celebration carries deep roots in the prairie soil, settled in the 1830s by German-speaking immigrants from Schaumburg-Lippe, a small principality in what is now Lower Saxony. By 1870, the township had become entirely German—land records showing every property owned by immigrants or their descendants—and German remained the first language of most households until the 1950s. That heritage echoes through Septemberfest’s DNA, a festival born from the same spirit of farming, community, and family that defined those early settlers. The Al Larson Prairie Center for the Arts, which anchors the festival grounds, opened in 1986 with an intimate 442-seat theater renowned for exceptional acoustics and sightlines, while the adjacent Municipal Center—dedicated in 1973 and named for beloved former Village President Robert O. Atcher—provides the sprawling lawn and parking areas that accommodate the carnival midway, parade routes, and gathering spaces.

The weekend unfolds in layers of sensory delight: a lively carnival midway spins and glows against the September sky while daily parades wind through the grounds, their marching bands and floats drawing cheers from families staking out blanket territory. Local rock and country bands command the stage, their sets building toward the nightly fireworks display that illuminates the grounds at 9 PM. Between performances, visitors browse the arts and crafts show featuring regional artisans, sample offerings from gourmet food trucks stationed throughout the site, and linger in the beer garden as the late-summer evening cools. Children find their own kingdom in dedicated play areas and family-friendly rides, while couples discover quieter corners near the Prairie Center’s outdoor sculpture park, where contemporary artworks punctuate the walking paths.

Schaumburg’s dining scene offers rich rewards before or after festival hours: Lou Malnati’s serves authentic Chicago deep-dish pizza from a historic building in Olde Schaumburg Centre that once housed an inn, tavern, and hardware store, while Weber Grill Restaurant prepares steaks and barbecue on authentic charcoal kettles with an open kitchen that invites interaction. Wildfire has anchored the community’s special occasion dining since 2003, and Ricardo’s—owned by a couple who met while working there and eventually bought the place—delivers the kind of family-owned Italian hospitality that defines neighborhood favorites. For craft beer enthusiasts, City Works Eatery pours ninety varieties on draft alongside modern American classics, and Kuma’s brings its legendary heavy-metal-themed burgers from Chicago to the suburbs. For accommodations that position you perfectly for Septemberfest weekend, explore nearby lodging options on Lake.com and start planning your Illinois prairie celebration today.