The Great American Lobster Fest is back at Chicago’s Navy Pier over Labor Day weekend, bringing delicious crayfish, lobster, shrimp, and more to the largest seafood festival in the Midwest.
From August 30 – September 1, enjoy all manner of seafood flown in from the East Coast and a cold beer to wash it all down. The festival grounds run in and around the Aon Grand Ballroom, free for anyone to wander through. Alongside family-friendly entertainment, games, live music, craft shopping, you’ll get to experience gorgeous skyline views from Navy Pier and the final fireworks show of the summer on Saturday night.
While the Great American Lobster Fest is free and open to the public, the festival also offers two food experiences from which to choose. The Lobster Meal Experience will get you a full lobster meal, reserved seating, and access to the Chicago lobster fest grounds. The VIP Meal Experience, however, takes things a step further by offering four drink tickets, access to the VIP lounge, and an exclusive VIP sampling in addition to everything you get with the Lobster Meal Experience.
But, if you really want to go all out for this year’s Great American Lobster Fest, just get a few of your friends together and take part in The Lobster Hero Feast, which includes an all-you-can-eat whole lobster and complimentary VIP tickets.
Apart from the most seafood you’ve ever eaten in your life, Chicago’s lobster fest also has a variety of “landfood,” snacks, sweets, and vegetarian options for you to chow down on while you’re there.
The Great American Lobster Fest Info
When
Friday, August 30 | 12 – 10 pm
Saturday, August 31 | 12 – 10 pm
Sunday, September 1 | 12 – 9 pm
Where
Navy Pier
600 East Grand Avenue
Chicago, IL 60611
Get parking ahead of time!
Tickets*
General Admission Experience
Price: FREE
- Access to local craft vendors, food and drinks, live music, and the Navy Pier fireworks show
Lobster Meal Experience
Price: $39.00
- A Lobster Meal (Whole Lobster or Lobster Roll w/ Corn, Potato, Butter, Dinner Roll & Lemon Wedge)
- Reserved Seating Areas: Festival Grounds, Aon Grand Ballroom, 2nd-floor balcony access, additional indoor bathrooms
- Access to Festival Grounds to enjoy local craft vendors, food and drinks, live music, and the Navy Pier fireworks show
Price: $109.00
- A Lobster Meal (Whole Lobster or Lobster Roll w/ Corn, Potato, Butter, Dinner Roll & Lemon Wedges)
- 4 Drink Tickets: alcoholic or non-alcoholic beverages
- Exclusive Access to the outdoor VIP LOUNGE with side stage views, shaded and unshaded areas, additional bathrooms, comfortable seating and tables, and more!
- Exclusive Access to the VIP Special Sampling Experience from 1:00 – 3:00 pm & 5:00 – 7:00 pm daily
- Access to Festival Grounds to enjoy local craft vendors, food and drinks, live music, and the Navy Pier fireworks show
*Meal redemption closes at 9 pm each night. You must redeem your meal token and lobster entrée before this time, at your preference, and during festival hours.
The Lobster Hero Feast*
Dates & Times
Friday, August 30 | 1 pm or 6 pm
Saturday, August 31 | 1 pm or 6 pm
Sunday, September 1 | 1 pm or 6 pm
Lobster Hero VIP Package for TWO
Price: $295
- All you can eat Whole Lobster during your 3-hours of reserved (communal) seating
- 2 VIP passes with access to reserved areas within the fest, as well as the complementary VIP Taste Test Experience (In the VIP lounge from 1pm to 3 pm and 5 pm to 7 pm daily)
- 4 VIP drink vouchers good for any beverage of your choice (Beer, Wine, Spirits, Soda, Water) with access to VIP bars
- A large serving of Corn-On-The-Cob, Potatoes, Kielbasa Sausage, Lemon Wedges, and Melted Butter
Lobster Hero VIP Package for SIX
Price: $795
- All you can eat Whole Lobster during your 3-hours of reserved (private group) seating
- 6 VIP passes with access to reserved areas within the fest, as well as the complementary VIP Taste Test Experience (In the VIP lounge from 1pm to 3 pm and 5 pm to 7 pm daily)
- 12 VIP drink vouchers good for any beverage of your choice (Beer, Wine, Spirits, Soda, Water) with access to VIP bars
- A family-style serving of Corn-On-The-Cob, Potatoes, Kielbasa Sausage, Lemon Wedges, and Melted Butter
Lobster Hero VIP Package for TEN
Price: $1,195
- All you can eat Whole Lobster during your 3-hours of reserved (private group) seating
- 10 VIP passes with access to reserved areas within the fest, as well as the complementary VIP Taste Test Experience (In the VIP lounge from 1 pm to 3 pm and 5 pm to 7 pm daily)
- 20 VIP drink vouchers good for any beverage of your choice (Beer, Wine, Spirits, Soda, Water) with access to VIP bars
- A family-style serving of Corn-On-The-Cob, Potatoes, Kielbasa Sausage, Lemon Wedges, and Melted Butter
*LIMITED AVAILABILITY- TICKETS FOR THIS WILL SELL OUT.
What to Do
Food Lineup
While the Great American Lobster Fest has yet to release a comprehensive menu of all there is to eat, you can peep last year’s lineup, which includes a mouthwatering selection of New England lobster rolls, lobster tacos, the Lobster Royale, fried lobster on a stick, popcorn lobster, and even Chicago-style lobster rolls!
Music Lineup
Friday, August 30
- 5:30 pm – The Smiley Tillmon Band
- 8:00 pm – Verzatile
Saturday, August 31
- 1:30 pm – South of Disorder (A tribute to Jimmy Buffett)
- 5:30 pm – Aniba Hotep & The Sol Collective
- 8:00 pm – Rico!
Sunday, September 1
- 8:00 pm – Brass Buckle Band
The Great American Lobster Fest is hosted by Green Curtain Events and sponsored by Peroni, Lobster Gram, Navy Pier, and Maven Car Sharing. The festival is also in partnership with The Ronald McDonald House Charities® of Chicagoland & Northwest Indiana, giving back .50 cents from each lobster sold directly to the RMHC-CNI. The Great American Lobster Fest additionally supports The Rise Foundation, Illinois Science Counsel, and The Theatre School at DePaul University.
Got some questions? The Great American Lobster Fest is ready to answer them. We’ll see you there!
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Featured Image Credit: The Great American Lobster Fest