CHICAGO (SCS) — Taste of Chicago returns to Grant Park this weekend, for the first time since the pandemic.
The festival will run from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Friday through Sunday.
Taste of Chicago was canceled in 2020 due to the pandemic, and last year featured “Taste of Chicago To Go,” a take-out version of the festival spread across the city with pop-up events.
This year’s “small bite” version of Taste of Chicago will feature 30 food vendors, plus a brewery, wine tent and cocktail bar, all at Buckingham Fountain Plaza from Friday through Sunday.
This weekend’s festival comes after three Taste of Chicago neighborhood events last month in Austin, Pullman and Little Village.
New this year at Taste, customers no longer need to buy restaurant tickets. All sellers will accept cash or credit.
Vendors this year include Eli’s Cheesecake Company, Robinson’s No. 1 Ribs, Yum Dum, The Sole Ingredient Catering LLC, Prime Tacos, Tandoor Char House, Josephine’s Southern Cooking, Porkchop, Churro Factory, Seoul Taco, Mr. E Chef Catering LLC, Puffs of Doom, Doom Street Eats, Billy Goat, Chicago’s Dog House, Arun’s Thai Restaurant, Esperanza Kitchen Delights, Connie’s Pizza, BJ’s Market & Bakery, Healthy Substance, Franco’s Ristorante, Harold’s Chicken, Don Paleta, Cynthia’s Gumbo Express Inc, Mrs. Tittle’s Cupcakes, La Cocinita Food Truck, Whadda Jerk, Haire’s Gulf Shrimp, Auntie Vee’s Kitchen, Mr. Quiles Mexican Food, and Decadent Flavor.
There will also be free entry to all music shows, on three stages.
MUSIC AND CHICAGO SUMMERDANCE TIMES:
Friday July 8
Goose Island Scene
- 11am-12:30pm – Featured Fanfare by DJ Janesita: Bandwith Chicago
- 12:30-2:15 p.m. – DJ Ayana Contreras
- 2:15-4pm – DJ Jill Hopkins
- 4-5pm – Karaoke Happy Hour with The People’s Stage
- 5-6pm – Exhibition Stroll, hosted by Lizzie G with DJ Breathlezz
- 6-8:30 p.m. – Trqpiteca
Chicago SummerDance Stage SummerDance launches Taste with four dance styles born in Chicago.
- 12pm – Line Dancing, featuring the Cha-Cha Slide / Just Jammin’ with Janelle & Company
- 1pm – Steppin’ / Shaun Ballentine
- 2 p.m. – Polka Hop / Arletta Gromek
- 3 p.m. – Footwork / Christopher “Mad Dog” Thomas
- 12pm-4pm – Music by DJ Mwelwa
Taste Main Stage Host and DJ for the evening: DJ Mike P
- 5 p.m. – Shaylin B and John The Author, presented by Chicago Made
- 6:00 p.m. – FRIEND
- 7:15 p.m. – Nelly
Saturday July 9
Taste the goose island stage
- 11am-2pm – DJ Johnny Jones Lingo Chicago Fanfare featuring: Lane Tech Varsity Band
- 12:00-1:00 p.m. – Eli’s Cheesecake Birthday Celebration!
- Eli’s Cheesecake and Taste of Chicago Birthday Party with a 1,000 pound birthday cheesecake! A special presentation features Chicago’s Bonnie Hunt as host with live performances from Teatro ZinZanni, youth hip-hop troupe The Happiness Club and more. Cutting of the cake at 1 p.m.; free cheesecake for the public.
- 3:30-4:30 p.m. – Karaoke Happy Hour with The People’s Stage
- 4:30-6:30 p.m. – Sadie Woods
- 6:30-8:30 p.m. – DJ Mike P
summer dance scene
- 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. – An evening of dancing with a walkie-talkie! Presented by the Chicago Children’s Theater and the Q Brothers
- 1pm – Ballroom Basics (for kids and families) / Dancing With Class
- 2pm – East Coast Swing / Can I have that dance
- 3pm – Merengue / Can I have this dance
- 1 to 4 p.m. – Music by May I Have This Dance
Taste the main stage DJ for the evening: Sandra Treviño
- 5 p.m. – Vivian Garcia and Pinqy Ring, presented by Chicago Made
- 6 p.m. – Girl K
- 7:15 p.m. – Aterciopelados
Sunday July 10
Taste the goose island stage
- 11am-12:15pm – DJ Chuck Wren featuring Marching Band: Lakeside Pride Marching Band
- 12h15-14h – DJ Machede
- 2-3:30 p.m. – DJ Selah Say
- 3:30-4:30 p.m. – Karaoke Happy Hour with The People’s Stage
- 4:30-6:30 p.m. – Duane Powell
- 6:30-8:30 p.m. – Jamal Smallz
Chicago SummerDance Stage
- 12pm – Salsa / Dance Mecca Chicago
- 1pm – Kizomba / Shafeeha Monae
- 2 p.m. – Bachata / Chicago Dance
- 3pm – Afrobeat / Stacy “Jukeboxx” Letrice
- 12pm–4pm – Music by DJ Kimani Rashad
Taste the main stage DJ for the evening: Miss Alex White (White Mystery)
- 5 p.m. – Rebecca Brunner and Marina City, presented by Chicago Made
- 6:00 p.m. – local time
- 7:15 p.m. – Truckers at the wheel
Chicago CBS Team
