Chicago doesn’t exactly lack for food festivals but leave it to Eataly to throw an epic rager that packs a whole city block party into a single night.
On Friday, September 26, the Italian marketplace at 43 E. Ohio Street transforms itself for All You Can Eataly SeptemberFest, a once-a-year blowout where guests are invited to eat, drink and play with total abandon. From 7pm to 11pm, the store becomes one sprawling tasting room with 40-plus Italian bites and more than 30 curated pours of wine, beer and spirits.
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What makes the event different from a traditional food festival is the setting. Instead of tents and lines in a park, attendees wander the multi-level halls of Eataly with a plate in one hand and a glass in the other, discovering something delicious around every corner. That might mean a Wagyu carving station next to a pasta counter or a table loaded with artisanal cheeses and cured meats begging to be paired with a Barolo. Every corner of the store gets in on the fun, with live music from The After Party setting the soundtrack while Activate brings games and prizes to keep the evening playful.
The food lineup alone could justify the $130 ticket price. There’s fresh seafood, pizza al taglio in the Roman style and house-made pastas like butternut squash ravioli, while apple cinnamon focaccia nods to the encroaching fall. (Yes, we're excited for sweater weather too!) You’ll also get to nibble on classic Italian sweets for dessert.
SeptemberFest isn’t just about food and drink, though. This year, Eataly ups the ante with a distinctly Chicago collaboration. Famed comedy troupe The Second City joins the party with two performances from some of the city’s sharpest comedians.
It’s hard to think of another event that so completely captures the spirit of Chicago in one night. The sheer scale of it feels celebratory as guests stroll through an Italian marketplace that has become an essential, much-loved part of the city's culinary life. In a city that knows how to eat, this might just be the ultimate all-you-can experience.