Categories: Entertainment and Attractions
Taste of Chicago
Author: Emily Capdevielle
The Taste of Chicago is where Chicago residents and visitors come and enjoy a variety of Chicago's restaurants in Grant Park. This 10 day festival starting June 27-July 6. will not only feed you, but entertain you with music performances and activities.
At the Taste of Chicago, you need to bring your appetite to enjoy a wide range of Chicago-specific foodstuffs from Wow Bao's teriyaki chicken steamed dumplings to Original Rainbow Cone's seven-layered ice cream cones.
MUSIC & ACTIVITIES
Also, enjoy different activities and music performances each day starting June 27-July 6. from 11a.m.-9p.m. The Taste of Chicago has been a tradition since 1980 and it's still running strong with more than 3.5 million people crowding around to get a taste of the 65 restaurants serving their finest in Grant Park. Your gateway to great eating will be found at the Taste with classic American favorites like Chicago-style hotdogs to cheeseburgers to ethnic cuisine--including Thai, African and Mexican cooking. Also, see our complete music at The Taste guide here.
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Admission is free but, unfortunately, the food is not. Food and beverages are sold by purchasing tickets that come in strips of 12 tickets for $8. Ticket booths are located in numerous places around the festival and can be recognized by the green-and white-striped tents. Mini portions of one item at each of the restaurants are priced at two to four tickets so you can gauge how many tickets to buy for your growling stomach.
TRANSPORTATION
Getting anywhere is never an issue in the city as there are not only taxis and the Chicago Transit Authority (CTA) to get you to and from the festival, but there are also free trolleys traveling between Grant Park, Metra stations, the Museum Campus and other downtown CTA stations.
FAMILY TIME
The Taste of Chicago revolves around the fantastic food. However there are activities galore to make a day of eating also a day of family fun at Family Village and the Fun Time Stage. These stages host different activities and performances each day. From Lego Block parties to acrobatic and circus acts, there is always something to do or watch throughout the day while your stomach takes time to digest.
"Taste Sports" is also a recurring event at the festival for all sports enthusiasts. You can enjoy appearances by Chicago sports teams including the Chicago Bulls, Blackhawks, White Sox, Sky and Fire scheduled to appear on different days with interactive sports and activities.
THE RACE
If you're feeling guilty about spending the whole day consuming cheesecake and BBQ ribs, The Bally Total Fitness "Race to Taste" on June 29. starting at 8a.m. is a way to shed those excess calories. You can register for the 5k run, 2-mile walk or Kids Dash online or at "Taste Sports". There are some perks to participating in this fitness event as well in addition to getting some exercise. Runners or walkers receive a one-month Bally Total Fitness membership, a Dri-Release shirt and a strip of food tickets for the Taste. There is also a chance to win cash prices for the top three finishers.
NEW EVENTS
At this year's Taste of Chicago there are many new activities and events making their debut like the "Chef's Table", "A Taste of Theater", "The Best Buy Live" mobile tour, green activities, "The Abraham Lincoln Self Made in America Bicentennial Tour", "Defy Gravity" with Bungy trampolines and many more new contributions to the festival. By the end of the day, you and your stomach will be full of food and entertainment.
For more information, visit the Taste of Chicago website.
Check out our food guide and our music guide for tips on the best culinary creations and melodic tunes at the 2008 Taste of Chicago.
