One of America's Biggest Barrel-Aged Beer Festivals Is Coming to University Village This Weekend
NEAR WEST SIDE, CHICAGO— One of North America's largest celebrations of barrel-aged beer is returning to Chicago this weekend, bringing breweries from across the country to the University of Illinois Chicago campus.
The 24th annual Festival of Wood & Barrel-Aged Beer (FoBAB) takes place Friday, November 13, and Saturday, November 14, 2026, at Credit Union 1 Arena, 525 S. Racine Avenue, near Little Italy and University Village.
Organized by the Illinois Craft Brewers Guild, the event will feature more than 250 beers, ciders, meads and perries per tasting session, including specialty creations made exclusively for the festival.
For Chicago residents and visitors, it's an opportunity to experience a nationally recognized craft brewing event while exploring one of the Near West Side's established neighborhoods.
What Makes Chicago's FoBAB Festival Different?
Unlike traditional beer festivals, FoBAB focuses specifically on beverages aged in contact with wood or wooden barrels.
The process can introduce distinctive flavors depending on the type of wood, previous barrel contents and length of aging.
Visitors can explore a wide range of styles, from rich barrel-aged stouts to fruit-forward beers, ciders and other specialty beverages.
This year's festival will feature:
More than 250 selections per session across 13 style categories.
More than 150 participating breweries from around the country.
Festival-exclusive releases not typically available elsewhere.
A national brewing competition recognizing standout entries.
A second-floor Lager Lounge featuring lighter beers from Illinois breweries.
The Lager Lounge gives attendees an alternative to the stronger barrel-aged selections traditionally associated with FoBAB.
The event is also the largest annual fundraiser for the Illinois Craft Brewers Guild, supporting education, advocacy and promotion of the state's craft brewing industry.
FoBAB 2026: Dates, Hours, Tickets and Location
| Session | Date | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Friday Evening | November 13 | 6–10 p.m. |
| Saturday Afternoon | November 14 | 1–5 p.m. |
General Admission: $85 plus processing fees
VIP Green Room Experience: $250 plus fees, with limited availability
Age Requirement: 21 and older
Organizer: Illinois Craft Brewers Guild
Official Tickets and Details: Festival of Wood & Barrel-Aged Beer
General admission includes access to the festival's Lager Lounge. The VIP Green Room experience offers additional amenities, including private lounge access, a food stipend and exclusive festival merchandise.
Members of the guild's ImBIBE program receive early entry, beginning at 5 p.m. Friday and noon Saturday.
The event also includes a national awards competition, with winners announced during Saturday's session.
Food will be available for purchase inside the arena.
Ticket availability and event details are subject to change. Visitors should confirm current availability and entry requirements through the official festival website.
Getting to Credit Union 1 Arena Near University Village
Credit Union 1 Arena sits on the eastern side of the UIC campus, making the festival accessible from several nearby Chicago neighborhoods.
For visitors taking public transportation, the CTA Racine Blue Line station is directly across from the arena.
The location also offers convenient access to the Eisenhower Expressway and other major routes connecting Downtown Chicago and the western suburbs.
Parking facilities are available around the arena, with event parking generally ranging from $10 to $20 depending on the location and event.
Because FoBAB is an alcohol-focused event, attendees planning to sample beverages should arrange public transportation or another safe ride home.
The arena's location also makes it convenient to explore nearby restaurants before or after the festival.
Explore Little Italy and University Village While You're There
FoBAB brings a major national event to a part of Chicago known for its mix of university life, historic architecture, restaurants and residential communities.
Just south of the UIC campus, Taylor Street serves as the heart of Little Italy, with longstanding Italian restaurants, bakeries and neighborhood businesses.
The surrounding area also includes attractions such as the Jane Addams Hull-House Museum, Arrigo Park and the University of Illinois Chicago campus.
University Village offers a different side of the Near West Side, combining established townhomes, condominiums and newer residential developments near Downtown Chicago.
For residents, having an arena, university facilities, neighborhood restaurants and transit connections nearby creates opportunities to enjoy sporting events, concerts and seasonal gatherings without traveling far.
Events like FoBAB highlight how the UIC campus serves as more than an educational institution. It also attracts visitors to the Near West Side and supports activity around nearby businesses.
For people considering living in University Village or Little Italy, it's worth exploring the neighborhood beyond major events to understand everyday traffic, transit access, restaurants and housing options.
Discover Living Near UIC, Little Italy and University Village
From seasonal events at Credit Union 1 Arena to Taylor Street's restaurants and nearby parks, University Village and Little Italy offer a combination of neighborhood character and convenient access to Downtown Chicago.
For buyers and relocation clients, the area includes condominiums, townhomes and other residential options near UIC, the Illinois Medical District and surrounding Near West Side neighborhoods.
The Cory Tanzer Group at Option Premier helps buyers, sellers and renters navigate real estate throughout University Village, University Commons, Little Italy and surrounding Chicago communities.
Considering a move near UIC or University Village? Connect with our team to explore available homes, compare neighborhood amenities and find a property that fits your lifestyle and budget.
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Led by Cory Tanzer, the team helps buyers, sellers, investors, landlords, and renters navigate real estate across Downtown Chicago, the North Shore, and the Western Suburbs, with local expertise in University Village, University Commons, South Loop, West Loop, Little Italy, Pilsen, and surrounding Chicagoland communities.
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