Ask a longtime Gurnee resident about the town's fall traditions, and they may mention a folding-table beer fest in a parking lot on Milwaukee Avenue, run by the American Legion and set for its ninth edition this fall.
Its history includes an earlier stop at Gurnee Mills before the move to the Legion's lot.
The Beer Fest at the Legion Lot
The Legions of Craft Beer Fest started in 2015 as a small fundraiser for Gurnee American Legion Post 771 and the Lake County Honor Flight. In its fourth year, in 2018, it was still leaning on Gurnee Mills for space, setting up outside Entrance E with more than 80 beers on offer, including hometown pours from Only Child Brewing and Waukegan's ZumBier alongside national names like Lagunitas.
Somewhere between that fourth year and its seventh, the fest packed up and moved onto the Legion's own lot at 749 Milwaukee Avenue. It never went back. The 2024 and 2025 editions both ran there, and the Village's own event listing confirms the same address for the eighth annual fest last October. Now in its ninth year, the festival is expected to return to that same Legion Post lot again this fall, continuing a pattern that's held for at least three straight years.
| Year | Edition | Venue |
|---|---|---|
| 2018 | 4th Annual | Gurnee Mills, outside Entrance E |
| 2024 | 7th Annual | American Legion Post 771, 749 Milwaukee Ave |
| 2025 | 8th Annual | American Legion Post 771, 749 Milwaukee Ave |
| 2026 | 9th Annual | American Legion Post 771, 749 Milwaukee Ave (expected) |
The scale has grown with the relocation. Today the event draws more than 50 breweries, hard ciders, food trucks, and live music, all in a single afternoon. Over its history it's raised more than $70,000 for local veterans and their families, money that stays with the American Legion post. A Daily Herald write-up from the 2024 edition described it plainly as a community fundraiser first and a beer tasting second.
The festival is one part of Gurnee's fall calendar, alongside local restaurants and other community events.
What's Changed on the Ground Since Last Fall
Two restaurants worth knowing about sit on opposite ends of town.
On Gurnee's west side, a new Buona Beef opened near North Hutchins Road. It's a straightforward Italian beef counter, the kind that does a brisk carryout business without needing a reservation.
On the Washington and Milwaukee corridor, Destino Ristorante has spent the past year building into one of the restaurants locals actually plan an evening around, not just pass on the way to somewhere else. Owner Danny Legatos built the place around family recipes and has since added a "Destino To Go" service and private dining rooms that now book out for birthdays and anniversaries. In a Chamber of Commerce spotlight, Legatos was candid about one thing that trips up first-time visitors:
"Our location on Milwaukee Avenue presents some access challenges."
It's a fair warning. The restaurant sits on Washington Street just off Milwaukee, and the entrance isn't always obvious from the road. Worth knowing before you drive past it twice looking for the sign.
These restaurants are part of Gurnee's wider mix of local businesses.
New Tenants at Gurnee Mills This Year
Gurnee Mills has had a busy year by its own standards. Simon Property Group, which owns the property, announced new tenants rolling in over several months. Just Cozy and Pretty Pretty Print Press arrived in the Macy's Wing this spring. Kako Claw, an arcade-style claw machine destination, followed shortly after in the same wing. Hangry Cluck, the Chicago-born sandwich spot known for its Nashville Chicken Sandwich, is set to open in Dining Pavilion North near Entry J this October. Off the Rax, offering discounted pieces from Ann Taylor, Chico's, Lane Bryant, and LOFT, follows in November near Entry B. Primark and Sky Zone round out the list.
The new arrivals give visitors more options at Gurnee Mills. The mall's tenant mix changes over time, while the Legion's beer fest has returned to the same address in recent editions.
The tenant list offers one view of changes at Gurnee Mills; the Legion's beer fest and the Village's get-togethers offer another view of the local fall calendar.
Village Gatherings at Local Parks
The Village also hosts the Gurnee Get-Togethers, free, casual evenings at neighborhood parks. Last September's edition landed at Christine Thompson Park, at the corner of Woodlawn and Belle Plaine, with a live set from local classic rock band No Limit, food from the El Durango truck, lawn chairs, yard games, and a visit from Mayor Tom Hood along with Police, Fire, and Public Works staff. The Village's own page describes it as a neighborhood get-together.
This year's edition landed on September 11, according to Visit Lake County's event listings. The park gathering is another example of Gurnee's community events.
What This Adds Up To If You Already Live Here
Gurnee residents can spend a fall weekend in different ways: visit Gurnee Mills for shopping or a Sky Zone birthday party, attend a restaurant opening on Washington Street or the west side, or gather at a park for music and community events. The Legions of Craft Beer Fest is another fall event at 749 Milwaukee Avenue.
Gurnee's fall calendar includes both changing retail offerings and recurring local gatherings, giving residents different ways to enjoy the season.
If you're already settled into Gurnee and curious what any of this local momentum means for your own street or your own home's value, Gina Shad is happy to talk it through. Request your complimentary home valuation and marketing plan whenever you're ready, no pressure, no timeline required.
