Join the North Shore’s most discerning shoppers from 9 am to 4 pm, as they browse aisle upon aisle of a terrific selection of antiques by more than fifty vendors. Dealers from across Illinois and as far away as Wisconsin, Indiana, Michigan and Pennsylvania, will showcase fine antique furniture, one-of-a-kind jewelry, home and garden furnishings, quilts and decorative objects, among other treasures. Many of the booths at the Oktoberfest Market will be returning for their third year, and will be familiar to those who frequent the markets at Sandwich and Kane County, IL.

Family Festival

While shoppers scour the Market, the rest of the clan can enjoy the Family Festival, which runs concurrently, beginning at 11 am. Young and young-at-heart will enjoy the full day of events, including a moon walk, football toss, shirt tie-dying, face painting, hair braiding, and create your own sand art masterpieces, to name a few. German music and entertainment is provided throughout the day. Delicious cider donuts, apples, hotdogs, chips and other fall favorites will be available throughout the day. The Biergarten will be popular throughout the day, too.
For heartier appetites, Wilmette’s own Zier’s Market has made a special, delicious sausage just for this annual event, so enjoy German-style wurst served on a plate with some mustard. Snacks, including pretzels, salt sticks and other lighter fare, are also available.

German Dinner and Entertainment

An authentic German dinner prepared by Inglenook Catering is sure to be a sensation with the locals as well as those Continental types. Inglenook has been impressing Oktoberfest devotees for more than thirty years with its traditional German recipes. Bratwurst with sauerkraut, German potato salad and apple strudel are among the favorite options. Bavarian breads, pretzels and salt sticks are among the European bread baskets being prepared by Signature Bakery of Chicago, a classic, Old World bakery serving Chicago’s best German restaurants. Live music, provided by Alte Kamaraden, known across the region for its traditional oompah style, begins at 8 pm.

Dance the night away and with The Mauds, the Chicago R&B band which gave us such hits as “Soul Drippin’,” “Hold on, I’m Coming,” and “Knock on Wood,” and was considered one of the hottest bands in the Midwest from 1965 to 1971. Founder Jimy Rogers reunited the band in 2000. The Mauds regularly play the House of Blues, Hark Rock, and recently at Ravinia, with the Steve Miller Band.

Where:

St. Joseph School, 1740 Lake Avenue (at Ridge), Wilmette, IL. Parking is available across Lake Avenue at St. Joseph Church, as well as in the surrounding neighborhood.