Chicago is a summer of festivals and I love exploring each and every one. We saw a Groupon for…read morePorky's rib fest and decided to give it a shot! At $15 for two adult entrance tickets and free parking, it was pretty reasonable for festival pricing. As you do at a rib fest, we ordered a bunch of ribs from the following places: - Rasta Joe's: The best out of the bunch. The ribs were cooked perfectly and the sauce was great, with a hint of Caribbean flair. The portion size was also quite generous as we received 6(!) ribs for the 1:3 size that cost $10. This is what I expected a half slab to be. We were extremely happy with this! - Chicago BBQ: Decent. The ribs are quite fatty and fall or the bone. I would equate this to like Barnellis ribs. They're tender and BBQ-ey but nothing extraordinary. I would eat them again though. At $8 for 3 ribs, I'd go for Rasta's. - Texas Lightning: Ew. Ew. Ew. Complete regret for this one. So glad we got a sampler because I think I would have shed a tear if we bought a full slab. High expectations for the Texans but they failed to deliver. The ribs were extremely dry, flaky, and flavorless. It was like someone microwaved a slab of ribs and drizzled some sauce over it. The Jamaican Pork at Rasta's was pretty good too! Good spices. We would definitely give Rasta's an A++ for their ribs. The carnival itself looked fun but also very expensive. Overall, it was a decent event with live music and booze.

Another long overdue review: It was my 2nd year in a row going here and I came back determined to…read moretry the ribs I remember liking so much last time! Me, my cousin, niece and nephew went here on a Thursday around 7pm. Chicago BBQ company: we tried their Beef brisket, Pulled pork, Cornbread and Half slab ribs(unfortunately it wasn't fall-off-the-bone like at Ribfest Chicago, beef brisket seems like pulled pork) Uncle Bob's: we tried 1/2 slab ribs, Pulled pork, Beef brisket, and Cornbread( didn't measure up to Chicago BBQ company) Howling coyote: we tried 1/2 slab rib dinner(they claimed their ribs are more tender than a mother's love! It was tender but Chicago BBQ had more flavor) Rasta joes: tried their 1/2 slab ribs and Jalapeno cheese cornbread (had flavor like Chicago BBQ but not as tender as howling coyote) Porky chicks BBQ: we tried the Big porky- had most meat and very tender and they gave generous portions, sauces were good too!

ive lived in chgo ridge for 51 years and always attended ridge fest until last year when the…read morevillage trustees were scared to have our annual fest. every other town had their festivals but not ridge fest. sissys what are you scared of??? the fest always had enough cops around and there was never any trouble . why cant we have our festival this summer 2025??????? the village does not do enough for our community they never have food banks to help the needy

Before I had a chance to buy something, I had already spent $20 on parking and admission. Maybe…read morethey couldn't find suitable grounds to set up the fest, but such a small fest seemed to be too pricey...even before you had a chance to spend money on food. The food seemed to be limited to a handful of popular Polish dishes. The entertainment was rather flat. The Perla tall boy beers tasted like a Miller or Bud. Overall, I expected more Polish cultural influence, rather it felt like a normal Chicago neighborhood fest with just a plethora of deep fried pierogi stands.

This is now the Pierogi Fest now and not the Southside Polish Fest…read more Well all I can say, as a first generation Polish American, is that I was highly disappointed with this fest. I came here with my girlfriend expecting a Polish surrounding and there was none. So let's review a few things here. 1st - There were no Polish people here like I was expecting. This was a very Americanized fest. I came here for culture. Chicago has the 2nd most population of Polish immigrants well over a million and all I heard was English spoken. 2nd - The food here was actually not bad, but not a lot of vendors. I had the Polish plate from Alex Deli and Grill. The sausage, pierogi, potato pancakes, and stuffed cabbage were amazing!!! 3rd - I was always an Okocim beer drinker, but they were not there. The only Polish beer there was Perli. And I was actually impressed! I bought a 4 pack of it on my way back home. I heard the Taste of Polonia at the Copernicus Center in Chicago is a lot better and Polish Authentic. I will definitely be there in September.

Nice recreational area. Kayaks and canoes available for rent at a reasonable fee. Lake is not too…read morelarge, usually pretty calm. There's a well maintained 1 mile trail around the lake, also a butterfly garden, kids area, and other points of interest. There are also a lot of special events and programs for kids and adults. Ample parking in their lot or on the street.

What a beautiful place! Breathtaking, Beautiful. My family rented out the clubhouse for a day for…read morean event. The service was flawless, ambiance was breath taking . The whole environment was cleaned beyond words. Anything you need is also there for use. I am impressed at the size as well. I was told it was extremely affordable . Parking was available and yes they did have a ramp for disabled people. touring around the gardens is beautiful just take your camera. Will be there again soon, actually in March. We loved it so, Definity to recommend with 5 stars . More pictures next time lol

The Sangria here is above so many others. We wish they were Open more hours on weekends - stopping…read morein for a taste of the different flavors and cheese tray is something fun to do.

What a great time! And the sangria delicious The owner Luz…read morecouldn't have been sweeter. Make sure to visit.

Less that 3 hours before our event I had issues logging and couldn't access my tickets but customer…read moreservice was great and helped me out quickly!

The parking people need to chill, wasn't that much traffic, stadium was 1/3 full. They were…read moreliterally having a nervous breakdown directing traffic, swearing at drivers. Ask a question, get a super passive aggressive answer. Stadium is nice though.

My guy and I decided to check this out. It's definitely more of something to do with the family…read morewith kids. Half of the area was seating areas, 2 stages with music (one bigger than the other), tent with seating and "bar" area and a sad selection for food and drinks. The other side was the carnival side. They did have booths, but basically nothing good. We walked around the whole thing pretty quickly, but we went back around again and got something to drink and sat for a bit. Then my guy got some tacos and the place was busy....so I thought they must be good....it's because it was only maybe 1-2 of the only stands that actually served food. It was clean and the staff were all very nice and friendly. Glad I checked it out, but once is enough. It is a 4 day thing.

Chicago's premier Children's Festival. This year will be at Summit Park in Summit IL., September 14…read more&15, 2013.

In 2021, I started making wine at home. Wild Blossom Meadery & Winery was where I could buy…read moresupplies that I needed. I had taken a winemaking class here, so I also could buy some of their kits if I didn't want to start from scratch with my own juice. Recent, I went to a Sunday brunch session that was really nice. The food was outstanding. And with the weather being nice, outdoor seating was an option that made the afternoon that more enjoyable. I had only been familiar with the wine, mead, and brewing supplies aspect of Wild Blossom. I like their "restaurant" setting. I may get back to enjoy some weekend events.

There are places you go for a drink... and then there are places like Wild Blossom Meadery…read more This spot has been there for us through everything -- celebrations, quiet nights, and even the hard moments. Somehow it always feels exactly right. Warm, welcoming, and just a little magical. Their mead is incredible (of course ), but the real hidden gem? The cheese boards. Thoughtfully put together, perfectly paired, and honestly... good enough to make any bee proud. Add a deck of Uno, a cozy table, and good company -- and you've got one of the best nights you can ask for. Wild Blossom isn't just a meadery. It's a place that shows up for you