BEST OUTDOOR FESTIVAL

Illinois State Fair

This one was surprisingly close in our reader poll. Not only can you catch a concert, pet a cow, ride a Ferris wheel, eat a corn dog, see a bazillion state troopers, buy a t-shirt, win a stuffed animal, watch horses race and devour your-favorite-food-on-a-stick, you can also drink beer. Only Blues and BBQs comes close. Runner-up: Old Capitol Blues & BBQs