The Taste of Chicago: A Windy City Tradition
Growing up near one of the greatest cities in the United States allowed my family to have easy access to a vibrant community, rich in culture and food. There are several destinations that make Chicago such an attractive place to live and visit: The Art Institute; Willis Tower (formerly Sears Tower, which was the tallest building in the world for 25 years); the Shedd Aquarium, Wrigley Field, and of course, The Taste of Chicago.
The Taste, as it is locally called, has been a mainstay for Chicago residents and visitors for over 40 years since its inception in 1980. I recall many trips with my family and friends to the yearly event. We’d wander from vendor to vendor, sampling tasty things from some of Chicago’s best restaurants and food trucks. It was always packed, but very fun and a great tradition that brings in over 100,000 attendees each year.
We have Arnie Morton, the creator of the Taste of Chicago, to thank for this popular foodie event. It originally took place on Michigan Ave but was moved to Grant Park because of the growth in the event’s participants and attendees. Attendance has gone up and down over the years for a number of reasons such as the COVID-19 pandemic, weather, and more recently a date change. The event was typically held every July and would very easily draw large crowds, but both last year and this year’s respective events took place in September to accommodate other city commitments. Hopefully the crowds will return this month to what they once did.
The Taste of Chicago also gives Chicago restaurants another way to showcase their menus, even in a modest way, to attract diners to their establishments. There are dozens of restaurants and vendors lined up for the 2024 Taste of Chicago event, and you can find pretty much every type of ethnic cuisine there. Some offerings include: African Food Palace, Arun’s Thai Restaurant, Cumin Club Indian Kitchen, Yvolina’s Tamales, Harold’s Chicken, and Lou Malnati’s Pizzeria. If you are looking for something sweet, then try something from The Original Rainbow Cone, Gaby’s Funnel Cakes, Donut Dudes or the famous Eli’s Cheesecake. There are also some fantastic food trucks, a beer hall and cocktail lounge to enjoy during the event.
Another huge draw for The Taste is its event programming. During the three-day event from September 6 to 8, there are at least eight performers scheduled, including Amira Jazeera, CeeLo Green, Nina Augustine, Atlas Genius, and Robert DeLong. All of them are performing at the main location in Grant Park. There are even more performances scheduled at the Goose Island Stage, which you can find on the event’s website.
If dancing in the streets is something that interests you, The Taste has a summer dance event. Whether you come by yourself, with your family, or a group of friends, you can practice your dance moves in salsa, hip hop, line dancing, K-pop, or even flamenco. If you are planning to bring children, there is an area that is kid-friendly and offers some interactive art and inflatables (those giant things kids can jump in!). Eli’s Cheesecake hosts their annual birthday celebration during the event, where the establishment presents a 1,000-pound Eli’s Cheesecake which is shared with all who attend the celebration.
The Taste’s website helps make the experience less stressful for everyone, offering travel tips for public transportation, parking, biking, and the streets to avoid during the event days. I haven’t been able to return for this Chicago tradition in many years, but I look forward to the next time I can stroll through, check out the various vendors, enjoy the famous Chicago-style hot dog, or deep-dish pizza, and perhaps a 2,000 calorie funnel cake!
For more information: https://www.choosechicago.com/articles/festivals-special-events/taste-of-chicago-overview/