Downtown Manteno gears up this week for four straight days of music, carnival rides and small-town tradition as Manteno Oktoberfest returns Thursday and runs through Sunday. The festival brings together live bands on three stages, a full carnival, food and street vendors, and a Saturday evening parade that has become a signature moment for the community.
The event is scheduled to run from Thursday through Sunday in downtown Manteno, according to enjoyillinois.com, which describes the festival as having expanded from a small community gathering into one featuring more than 25 carnival rides and games, three music stages with entertainment running from day into night, and food, vendors and family-friendly activities throughout the weekend. As reported by Shaw Local, this year's celebration is the 28th annual Manteno Oktoberfest and includes live music, food and street vendors, a carnival and an outdoor bar.
Sources differ on exactly how long the festival has run. The Village of Manteno states the festival has brought people together for 26 years, while the Manteno Chamber of Commerce describes it as 25 years running — though the Manteno Chamber of Commerce's event listing separately refers to 2026 as the chamber's 27th annual Oktoberfest. What isn't in dispute is how the event has grown: the Manteno Chamber of Commerce notes that what began as a small three-ride carnival and a beer tent has since grown into a carnival with more than 25 rides and games, an effort the chamber says was started to bring the community together and support its mission.
Thursday's Opening Day Lineup
Opening day Thursday brings the Fantasy Amusement Carnival running from 5 to 10 p.m., along with outdoor bar service from 5 to 11 p.m., per Shaw Local's reporting. The Manteno Chamber of Commerce's Business After Hours event is set for 5 to 7 p.m. in the Main Street Dining Tent, an event the chamber's own listing confirms is planned as opening-day programming. Bike Night follows at the American Legion from 7 to 10 p.m., and the Ron Burgundy's take the Main Street Stage from 7:30 to 9:30 p.m.
Friday Brings Garage Sales, Parades and Bands
Friday's schedule, according to Shaw Local, includes more than 40 participating sales for Manteno Garage Sale Days, plus the Fantasy Amusement Carnival and Oktoberfest food and street vendors both running from 2 to 10 p.m. Outdoor bar service continues from 2 p.m. to midnight, while the American Legion Fish Fry runs from 2 to 7 p.m. The Manteno Chamber Pet Parade steps off on Main Street at 6 p.m., followed by an evening of live music: Cherry Bomb from 7 to 8:30 p.m., Boy Band Night from 9 to 11:15 p.m. on the Main Street Stage, Wild Daisy from 8:30 to 10:30 p.m. on the 1st Street Stage, and Stone Type Thing from 9 to 11 p.m. on the 2nd Street Stage. Stevie Swing performs at the American Legion at 8 p.m.
Saturday's Lighted Parade Headlines the Weekend
Saturday is the festival's busiest day, with the Fantasy Amusement Carnival, outdoor bar service, garage sale days and food and street vendors all running for extended hours, per Shaw Local. The Main Street Pharmacy Lighted Oktoberfest Parade steps off at 7 p.m. with this year's theme, Best of the U.S. Live music follows with Disco Circus on the Main Street Stage from 8:30 to 11 p.m., the Ryan Craig Band on the 1st Street Stage from 9 to 11 p.m., and South Side Social Club on the 2nd Street Stage from 9 to 11:15 p.m.
Sunday Closes With Sports, Show Choir and Tiny Wrestling
Sunday's lineup opens early with a Bloody Mary and Breakfast Bar at 9 a.m. at the Manteno Sportsmen's Club, according to Shaw Local, followed by the American Legion Tractor Show from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Legion Park and a Blind Draw Bags Tournament at 1 p.m. back at the Sportsmen's Club. Garage sale days, food and street vendors, the carnival and outdoor bar service all continue into the afternoon. The Manteno Show Choir performs on the 2nd Street Stage from 1 to 1:45 p.m., Dance Alive Dance Studio takes the same stage from 2 to 3 p.m., and Winslow Arizona closes out the Main Street Stage from 2 to 4 p.m. The Manteno American Legion caps the festival with Tiny Wrestling at 6 p.m.
Sponsors and Logistics
Shaw Local reports that Gotion Illinois returns as the presenting sponsor for the third straight year, with Crosswell Ford, the Manteno American Legion, the Village of Manteno, VRS Realty and Main Street Pharmacy listed among the festival's large sponsors. Carnival tickets will be sold at the festival gate rather than in advance, according to the Manteno Chamber of Commerce, which confirms no presale tickets are available. The festival sits just off Interstate 57 at exit 322 in Kankakee County, per enjoyillinois.com's listing.
