Septemberfest is held on Labor Day weekend as the unofficial closure to summer. The 55th annual Septemberfest will be held Saturday, September 5 through Monday, September 7, 2026.

Septemberfest hours are:
Saturday, September 5 and Sunday, September 6: 10 a.m. – 10 p.m.
Monday, September 7: 10 a.m. – 9 p.m.

Please note that hours for specific attractions and features vary.

While the layout of the festival grounds will be different due to the municipal center construction project, Septemberfest will continue to be held in its usual location on the grounds of the Robert O. Atcher Municipal Campus at 201 Schaumburg Ct., Schaumburg, IL 60193.

Septemberfest will be held Saturday, September 5 - Monday, September 7, 2026.

Septemberfest is the Village of Schaumburg’s flagship event. A committee of 27 professionals responsible for planning and executing the festival each year compose the Septemberfest Committee. As a municipal event, Septemberfest is supported by every department in the village, including police and fire, public works, transportation and community development, as well as more than 100 volunteers!

As we always say, it takes a village!

• Ashton Park
• Bright Ridge
• Burnley Circle
• Gatewood
• Lexington Village
• New Mills Ct.

While Septemberfest does not have a formal entrance, there are several ways to access the 40-acre festival grounds:

• North: Schaumburg Rd. and Schaumburg Ct. (formerly Prairie Center Dr.), located across from the School District 54 Administrative Building and Shuttle Bus area

• East: from Plum Grove Rd., near the Main Stage

• South: from Kenilworth Dr., near the Main Stage

• West: Summit Dr., near the Arts & Crafts area

The service runs from 9:30 a.m.–10:30 p.m. on Saturday, September 5 and Sunday, September 6, and
9:30 a.m –9:30 p.m. on Monday, September 7. There are several busses on each route running continuously throughout the festival hours. 

Park for free & ride from one of three locations:

• Schaumburg High School
• Conant High School
• Addams Jr. High School 

• Shuttle Bus Service is free of charge.
• Food or open beverages are not permitted on the shuttle buses.
• The last shuttle bus departs within 20 minutes of the end of each night's activities.

For a map and more information please visit the Shuttle Bus Service page 

• DART is ADA accessible.

• DART picks you up at your front curb.

• Let the dispatcher know when you plan to leave the fest. If your plans change, call the dispatcher to cancel your ride or reschedule.

• If you provide a phone number to the driver, you can receive a call 10 minutes before your bus arrives.

• Rides are first come-first serve, depending on scheduling.

• Service to/from Septemberfest is available to/from anywhere within the municipal boundaries of the Village of Schaumburg.

Details about our performances will be announced on our Main Stage Entertainment page and Local Entertainment page when available. 

Main Stage Tarp Policy:

• No items may be placed on the festival grounds prior to Saturday, September 5.
• Tarps, blankets and chairs may not be placed on the festival grounds until 6 a.m. each day.
• Tarps, blankets and chairs must be removed at the end of each night.
• Items not taken at the end of each night will be removed and discarded by the cleaning crew.
• Tarps and blankets must not exceed 10' x 12' in size.
• Stakes must be flush with the ground.
• Trip hazards will be removed by festival officials.
• Violations will result in your tarp being removed and confiscated.

Main Stage VIP tickets grant you reserved seating near the front of the Main Stage. Patrons can select their desired seats when placing their order and will find chairs waiting for them in the VIP area. Ticket holders also have access to a climate-controlled restroom near the stage, and VIP access to the Main Stage bar.

VIPs are also allowed to come-and-go as they please to allow patrons the opportunity to explore the festival.

Please go to the Main Stage Entertainment page to purchase VIP tickets.

For participating restaurants please visit the Food & Beverage Menus page

For participating breweries and vendors please visit the Craft Beer & Wine Garden page 

For more information on Carnival Hours and our Free rides for people with disabilities program please visit the Carnival page.

Septemberfest continually evaluates every aspect of the festival to provide a safe, enjoyable, and memorable experience for the community. Recent changes to fireworks safety requirements now require significantly larger launch safety zones and buffer areas than in previous years. At our longtime launch location, these expanded safety requirements impact nearby parking and event operations, including limiting the availability of parking areas that support fundraising efforts for local churches and nonprofit organizations. In addition, mature trees between the launch site and the primary viewing area limit visibility of a traditional fireworks display. The site's layout and safety requirements also limited the scale of fireworks that could be used.

After carefully evaluating available options, Septemberfest determined that a drone show was the best solution to continue providing a memorable nighttime finale while addressing evolving safety requirements and site considerations. The drone show offers a unique and engaging experience while complementing the many attractions that make Septemberfest a Labor Day tradition, including live entertainment on three stages, the carnival, Arts & Crafts Show, Taste of Schaumburg, Taste of Schaumburg Not-for-Profit Day, Craft Beer & Wine Garden, Bingo, the Labor Day Parade, and more.

We recognize that some attendees will miss the fireworks, and we appreciate the feedback we have received. Community input is shared with the Septemberfest Committee and considered as part of the festival's ongoing planning and continuous improvement process.

 The First Aid Tent is located on the plaza in the middle of the festival grounds, just east of the Command Center (Al Larson Cultural Center).

Attendees of Septemberfest can sign up to receive timely fest-related emergency notifications on their mobile devices. Notifications will alert attendees of a fest closure or suspension due to inclement weather or other types of emergencies.

Sign up online or text "Join Fest" to 58339 during the weeks prior to the festival.

• Severe weather (e.g., lightning, high winds, flooding, extreme heat)
• Unsafe conditions in the event area
• Local, state, or federal emergency declarations
• Public safety threats or law enforcement activity
• Equipment failure or loss of essential services (e.g., power outage)
• Health and safety concerns as determined by event organizers or public health officials

The decision to cancel, delay or temporarily suspend is made by the public safety officials, emergency management personnel, and Command Staff personnel. The goal is always to prioritize the safety of patrons, staff and volunteers.

• Official festival website and social media platforms
• Public address announcements at the event
• The optional emergency notification opt-in program

Septemberfest and festival vendors do not offer refunds on purchases on items or services, including—but not limited to— carnival tickets/credits. In the event that the headlining performance is canceled due to inclement weather, VIP tickets may be refunded or exchanged. Entertainment will not be rescheduled in the event of cancellation. 

If you are interested in performing at Septemberfest, please visit our Band Application page and fill out our "Band Submission Form". 

Band information should be submitted January through April to be considered for the current year on the Main Stage, Local Stage, and Craft Beer & Wine Garden Stage. Bands/musicians booked at the fest must be suitable for all ages. 

The Taste of Schaumburg is only open to restaurants. Food trucks and food vendors may participate in the Taste of Schaumburg’s Not-for-Profit Day event on Labor Day Monday.

Please visit our Taste Not-for-Profit Day application page for more information 

Thanks for your interest in joining the more than 100 volunteers who help us make Septemberfest a success! We have multiple locations on the festival grounds that are available for volunteering and volunteers may select multiple shifts in multiple locations. Please note all volunteers must be at least 18 years of age.

Volunteer shifts are available in four-hour increments. If you want to be with us longer you are more than welcome to register for multiple shifts.