Corn Fest and the downtown calendar
DeKalb Corn Fest is the city's signature event, a family-friendly festival held over a late-August weekend on Lincoln Highway in downtown DeKalb, with a carnival, craft fair, car show, ticketed main stage and a free sweet corn boil. The 2026 festival marked its 49th edition. The city publishes road and parking lot closures ahead of the festival, and carnival setup begins several days before opening.
If you're planning a separate event that weekend, or a private party nearby, book early. Festival setup and closures can affect delivery routes and timing, and local inventory gets committed to the festival.
Other occasions that commonly need rentals include:
- Graduation parties and NIU-related gatherings in May
- Fall tailgates around Huskie football home games
- Weddings at barns and farm venues in the surrounding countryside
- 5Ks, church picnics and neighborhood block parties
Farm and construction sites
DeKalb County is overwhelmingly agricultural, and farm operations use portable toilets during planting and harvest, for seasonal crews and at field days. Residential, commercial and campus construction, along with road work, add steady monthly rentals.
On construction jobs, OSHA scales the required toilet count with the size of the crew, so a growing site should add units as trades arrive. Ask about trailer-mounted units if your crew moves between fields or road segments, and add a handwashing station where workers eat.
Permits
Events on public streets, sidewalks or city property in DeKalb generally need approval from the city, and park events may require a reservation or permit. Requirements and fees aren't the same for every location, so contact the City of DeKalb or the park district as soon as your date is set. Events on NIU property follow the university's own approval process.
When you submit a site plan, mark where restrooms will be placed and how the service truck will reach them.
Weather in DeKalb
Northern Illinois weather is changeable. Summers are warm and humid with strong storms, and open terrain means wind can be a factor. Ask your provider to stake units at windy rural venues. Winters are cold and snowy; for construction rentals, request antifreeze additives and keep a lane plowed for service.
Planning your order
A simple rule: one standard unit per 50 guests for a four-hour event. Add more for:
- All-day events or overnight camping
- Alcohol service (about 15 to 25 percent more)
- Hot weather
For public events, follow Access Board guidance of at least 5% of units per cluster for ADA-accessible units, set on level, firm ground. For weddings, a deluxe flushable unit or small restroom trailer is a popular upgrade.
Typical costs
In the DeKalb area, rough price ranges are:
- Standard event units: about $100 to $225 each
- Monthly construction or farm units with weekly service: often $120 to $225
- Restroom trailers: generally starting around $900 to $1,000 per day
Rural delivery and extra service visits can add to the total.
Get started
Post a job on Rental Site Services with your DeKalb address, dates, headcount and unit types. DeKalb County companies shown on this page can price the job at no cost, so you can weigh their offers side by side.