Special Events Happening in Downtown Elgin for 2022

Below is a listing of major events scheduled to take place in Downtown Elgin throughout 2022. This list is your go-to guide for larger, major events hosted by the City and the Downtown Neighborhood Association as well as those taking place at The Hemmens, The Centre and Festival Park. There are many more smaller events taking place at local businesses throughout the year! Please follow us on Facebook for a complete listing of all events happening in Downtown Elgin. If you know of an event you think should be added to this list please email team DNA here.

APRIL
Friday, April 29 – Wizard of Oz Exhibit opens at Gail Borden Public Library
Saturday, April 30 – Elgin Spring Wine Fest at The Centre (3pm – 6pm)
Saturday, April 30 – Elgin Symphony Orchestra presents Mariachi! at the Hemmens (7:30pm)

The 22nd Season of the Elgin Farmers Market kicks off on Friday, June 3rd and runs every Friday through October 14.

MAY
All Month – Wizard of Oz Exhibit at Gail Borden Public Library
Sunday, May 1 – Elgin Symphony Orchestra presents Mariachi! at the Hemmens (3pm)
Sunday, May 1 – Saturday, May 7 – Elgin Area Eats Restaurant Week
Friday, May 13 – Second Friday Improv with Green Productions at the Hemmens (8pm)
Friday, May 20 – Elgin Symphony Orchestra presents Scheherazade with Andrew Grams at the Hemmens (7:30pm)
Saturday, May 21 – Elgin Symphony Orchestra presents Scheherazade with Andrew Grams at the Hemmens (3pm)
Saturday, May 28 – Butterfly Garden Planting at The Centre (10am)
Monday, May 30 – Memorial Day Ceremony at Veteran’s Memorial Park (9:45am)

JUNE
All Month – Wizard of Oz Exhibit at Gail Borden Public Library
Friday, June 3 – Elgin Farmers Market 22nd Season Opening Day (3pm – 8pm)
Friday, June 3 – First Friday Improv with Green Productions at the Hemmens (8pm)
Sunday, June 5 – Elgin Fox Trot Corner of Grove & Kimball (7:30am start)
Friday, June 10 – Elgin Farmers Market (3pm – 7pm) Theme: Shakespeare on Spring
Friday, June 17 – Elgin Farmers Market (3pm – 7pm) Theme: Juneteenth Celebration
Saturday, June 18 – Juneteenth Celebration Motorcade Parade, Festival & Car Show in Festival Park (10am – 10pm)
Sunday, June 19 – Juneteenth Celebration Gospel Explotion in Festival Park (11:30am – 1pm)
Friday, June 24 – Elgin Farmers Market (3pm – 7pm) Theme: Ride Your Bike to the Market

The 4th of July Parade will return to Downtown Elgin this year followed by a concert and fireworks show in Festival Park.

JULY
All Month – Wizard of Oz Exhibit at Gail Borden Public Library
Friday, July 1 – Elgin Farmers Market (3pm – 8pm) Theme: Art at the Market
Monday, July 4 – Elgin 4th of July Parade (Begins at 9am in front of City Hall)
Monday, July 4 – Elgin 4th of July Fireworks & Concerts in Festival Park
~ Food Trucks on Grove Avenue (4pm)
~ Modern Day Romeos Concert in Festival Park (7pm)
~ Fireworks Display (9:30pm approx)
Friday, July 8 – Elgin Farmers Market (3pm – 7pm) Theme: Bake Week
Sunday, July 10 – Elgin History Museum Classic Car Show (10am – 3pm)
Friday, July 15 – Elgin Farmers Market (3pm – 7pm) Theme: Kids Day
Friday, July 15 – Sunday, July 17 – Elgin Summer Theatre (In the Heights at The Hemmens)
Friday, July 15 – Movie in Festival Park (Encanto at 7:30pm)
Friday, July 22 – Elgin Farmers Market (3pm – 7pm) Theme: Health & Wellness
Friday, July 22 – Movie in Festival Park (Wizard of Oz at 8:30pm)
Friday, July 22 – Sunday, July 24 – Elgin Summer Theatre (In the Heights at The Hemmens)
Friday, July 29 – Elgin Farmers Market (3pm – 7pm) Theme: How Does Your Garden Grow
Friday, July 29 – Dennis Jurs Memorial Bike Race (details tbd)

AUGUST
All Month thru the 29th – Wizard of Oz Exhibit at Gail Borden Public Library
Monday, Aug 2 – National Night Out & Movie in Festival Park (Up at 8:30pm)
Friday, August 5 – Elgin Farmers Market (3pm – 8pm)
Saturday, August 6 – Fitness in Festival Park, Bootcamp with The Centre (time tbd)
Saturday, August 6 & Sunday, August 7 – Art & Soul on the Fox at the Civic Center Plaza (10am – 4pm)
Friday, August 12 – Elgin Farmers Market (3pm – 7pm) Theme: National Farmers Market Week
Friday, August 19 – Elgin Farmers Market (3pm – 7pm) Theme: Be an Environmentalist
Saturday, August 20 – Fitness in Festival Park, Yoga with The Centre (time tbd)
Friday, August 26 – Elgin Farmers Market (3pm – 7pm) Theme: Local History Day

Fringe Festival from Side Street Studio Arts returns to Downtown Elgin September 2 – 11 and includes a special Family Fringe event on September 3.

SEPTEMBER
Friday, September 2 – Elgin Farmers Market (3pm – 7pm) Theme: Dairies to Prairies
Friday, September 2 – Sunday, September 11 – Elgin Fringe Festival
Friday, September 2 – First Friday Improv with Green Productions at the Hemmens (8pm)
Saturday, September 3 – Family Fringe Day
Friday, September 9 – Elgin Farmers Market (3pm – 7pm) Theme: Fringe Day
Saturday, September 10 & Sunday, September 11 – Historic Elgin House Tour (9am – 4pm)
Sunday, September 11 – September 11th Remembrance Ceremony at Civic Center Plaza (9am)
Friday, September 16 – Elgin Farmers Market (3pm – 7pm) Theme: Hispanic Heritage Week
Friday, September 23 – Elgin Farmers Market (3pm – 7pm)
Saturday, September 24 – Elgin Short Film Festival at The Hemmens
Saturday, September 24 & Sunday, September 25 – Elgin History Museum Bluff City Cemetery Walk (details tbd)
Friday, September 30 – Elgin Farmers Market (3pm – 7pm) Theme: Cosplay on Parade
Friday, September 30 – Spidey Movie Night at The Centre (6pm)

OCTOBER
Friday, October 7 – Elgin Farmers Market (3pm – 7pm) Theme: Art Fest
Friday, October 7 – First Friday Improv with Green Productions at the Hemmens (8pm)
Saturday, October 8 – Elgin Symphony Orchestra presents Carnivale! at The Hemmens (7:30pm)
Sunday, October 9 – Elgin Symphony Orchestra presents Carnivale! at The Hemmens (2:30pm)
Thursday, October 13 – Family Fall Fest at The Centre (5pm – 7pm)
Friday, October 14 – Elgin Farmers Market (3pm – 7pm)
Friday, October 21 – Elgin Farmers Market 22nd Season Closing Day (3pm – 7pm)
Saturday, October 22 – Nightmare on Chicago Street
Friday, October 28 – Monster Mash Family Bash at The Centre (6pm – 8:30pm)
Saturday, October 29 – Art Harvest in DuPage Court (1pm – 4pm)

The Edward Schock Centre of Elgin celebrates its 20th Anniversary this year with events all year long, capped off with a special celebration day on November 11.

NOVEMBER
Friday, November 4 – First Friday Improv with Green Productions at the Hemmens (8pm)
Saturday, November 5 – Elgin Symphony Orchestra presents Dramatic & Mysterious at The Hemmens (7:30pm)
Sunday, November 6 – Elgin Symphony Orchestra presents Dramatic & Mysterious at The Hemmens (2:30pm)
Friday, November 11 – Friday, December 16 – City of Elgin Letter’s to Santa Program
Friday, November 11 – Veteran’s Day Ceremony at The Centre (11am)
Friday, November 11 – Whiskey Tasting & Pairing Event at The Centre (5:30pm – 8:30pm)
Saturday, November 12 – 20th Anniversary Celebration at The Centre
~ 2-Mile Family Fun Walk (8:30am)
~ Food Truck Fiesta (10am – 3pm)
~ The Edward Schock Centre Ceremony (11am)
~ Princesses & Superheroes Open House (12pm – 3pm)
Saturday, November 26 – Small Business Saturday (details tbd)
Saturday, November 26 – Saturday, December 30 – Holly Days (details tbd)
Saturday, November 26 – City of Elgin Tree Lighting Ceremony in Festival Park (5pm)

DECEMBER
Friday, December 2 – Swimming with Santa at The Centre (6pm to 9pm)
Friday, December 2 – First Friday Improv with Green Productions at the Hemmens (8pm)
Saturday, December 10 – Krampus Krawl (5pm to 2am)
Saturday, December 10 – Elgin Symphony Orchestra presents Holiday Spectacular at The Hemmens (7:30pm)
Sunday, December 11 – Elgin Symphony Orchestra presents Holiday Spectacular at The Hemmens (2:30pm)
Friday, December 16 – Last day for the City of Elgin Letter’s to Santa Program
Friday, December 30 – Elgin Symphony Orchestra presents Latin Fire! at The Hemmens (7:30pm)

We hope take advantage of the many opportunities to enjoy Downtown Elgin. Please watch for more events to be added to this list as they are finalized.