Sad about the July 4th holiday being over and done with? Don’t be disappointed for too long.
Starting July 6, there’s more Chicago fun to look forward to as the annual Taste of Chicago kicks off in Grant Park. It’s known as the world’s largest free food festival, and the outdoor event allows food vendors to line the streets of the city and the park. The main entrance of the festival is located at Jackson Boulevard and Columbus Drive.
The annual fest has been shortened over the years – with this year’s event packed into five, food and concert-filled days, from Wednesday through Sunday.
The festival runs from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Wednesday through Friday, and from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. Entry is free, but bring money for food and drinks.
Here are few things you need to know before you go:
Good eats
With over 200 items to choose from offered by nearly 70 of the city’s famed restaurants, this year’s taste should have something to please all palates.
From slices of deep dish from local pizzerias to offering from celebrated eateries such as Fat Rice and MAD Social, there’s also an array of food trucks and pop-ups.
This year will offer expended offerings with 20 new restaurants, six new food trucks and 11 pop-ups celebrating their inaugural year at the festival, according to Chicagonow.com.
For a full list of restaurants, click here.
For a list of pop-ups, go online here.
And for info on food trucks, click here.
Good tunes
No festival is complete without a little live music, and the Taste will deliver this year with a full lineup of nightly concerts at the Petrillo Music Shell. Starting with The Roots on Wednesday, the list also includes The Decemberists and Billy Idol.
Concerts are free, but for a better view and a better view of the stage, tickets are available for purchase. For a full lineup of shows, go online here.
Good Chefs
Want a great culinary experience? Get tickets to the Celebrity Chef de Jour. This ticketed event features three-course meals each night prepared by a different Chicago chef – all in a decorated, air-conditioned dining pavilion.
The lineup of chefs includes Graham Elliot and Patrick Sheerin. For more information and a full lineup, click here.
On July 6, 7, 8 and 9, dinners begin at 6:30 p.m. On July 10, dinner kicks off at 5 p.m. The meals are being held at the park’s Buckingham Fountain at 500 S. Columbus Drive.
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