Overview Chocolate Fest is the first of Historic Downtown Long Grove's three big festivals each year, held in May: three days of chocolate specials from a dozen of the village's own shops and restaurants, a carnival, and a Main Stage that gives each day its own theme, which in 2026 ran country on Friday, the 90s on Saturday and Woodstock on Sunday. Strawberry Fest follows in June and Apple Fest in September. The Historic Downtown Long Grove Business Association, a nonprofit, puts the proceeds into downtown improvements: street lights, entry signs, banners, upkeep of Covered Bridge Park and free community events. Long Grove is a Lake County village about 35 miles northwest of Chicago, settled in the early 1800s by German farmers, with a 1906 covered bridge over Buffalo Creek on its logo. On site The festival fills the downtown crossroads of Robert Parker Coffin Road and Old McHenry Road, from noon on Friday until 6 p.m. on Sunday. The Fountain Square Stage carries dance performances, pie-eating contests, Brazilian jiu-jitsu demonstrations and free kids' crafts on Saturday and Sunday. A carnival runs all three days, 12 brick-and-mortar businesses serve chocolate menu items, and street vendors add burgers, barbecue, pizza, ice cream, beer and wine. Children 12 and under get in free, and on the weekend a free shuttle runs from a remote lot in Buffalo Grove. Talent and Influencers The 2026 bill was built on tributes and regional bands: Michael C. Hayes, the Abby Kay Band and Morgan Wallen and Post Malone tributes on country night; Funky Monks, Rearview, The Infinite Sadness and Stupid Girl among the 90s acts; and Who's Who, Deadfest and Mr. Blotto closing Sunday's Woodstock set. Track record The organizers say each of the three Long Grove festivals draws local television coverage from ABC, NBC, FOX and WGN. ABC7 Chicago ran a segment from Chocolate Fest in 2016. Brand presence Fantasy Amusements runs the carnival. The Main Stage takes a sponsor's name for the weekend, on the banner across the top of the stage, the schedule and the festival's posts, and that sponsor gets to address the crowd and introduce the headline band. The Kids' Craft Tent is a 10-by-20-foot, festival-run tent on the grass in Fountain Square, and its presenting sponsor's booth sits beside it. Other booths run at Mill Pond and Fountain Square and along Robert Parker Coffin Road, and a partner can back one festival or all three.