Taste of Chicago 2009 is Chicago's biggest event. Getting its start as a modest food festival on the Fourth of July in 1980, the Taste of Chicago has grown to be the world's largest outdoor food fest -- a gastronomical extravaganza attracting upwards of 3 million people each year.
Where:
Grant Park -- north/south between Monroe Avenue and Balbo Drive, east/west between Michigan Avenue and Lake Shore Drive.
When:
Taste of Chicago Dates: June 26 through July 5, 2009
Hours:
11:00 a.m. - 9:00 p.m. (the festival closes at 9:30 p.m. on July 3 and 4, 6:00 p.m. on July 5)
Admission:
Admission and events are free, but you obviously have to pay for food and drinks. Purchases are made by ticket only. Tickets are sold in strips of 12 for $8. Large items are generally 9-10 tickets, side portions 6-7 tickets, soft drinks 4 tickets. All daily restaurants offer a small "Taste" portion for 2-3 tickets -- a great way to sample a large variety of all the food available.
Getting to Taste of Chicago By Public Transportation:
CTA bus lines #145 or #151 to Monroe/Michigan stop. Grant Park is also a short walk east from Loop Red and Blue line subway stops.
Parking at Taste of Chicago:
There is no parking on festival grounds, but there are several nearby garages: Parking garages are located at the Millennium Park Garage accessed on Columbus between Randolph and Monroe, the Monroe Street Garage at Monroe & Columbus, and the Grant Park garage with entrances at Michigan and Madison or Michigan and Randolph.
Independence Eve Fireworks:
Fireworks at the Taste of Chicago are not held on the traditional Fourth of July, but rather the night before on July 3. The Chicago fireworks are a spectacular display of over 5,000 aerial devices and shells. Festivities kick off at 7:30 p.m. with a performance by the Grant Park Orchestra at the Petrillo Music Shell, with the fireworks display beginning at 9:30 p.m. Over one million people attend Chicago's Independence Eve fireworks, so plan on plenty of extra time coming and going.
An introduction to Taste of Chicago: The latest iteration of Chicago's largest outdoor food and music festival will feature a new layout, fewer vendors, a renewed focus on health and a strong sense of value.
Where:
Grant Park -- north/south between Monroe Avenue and Balbo Drive, east/west between Michigan Avenue and Lake Shore Drive.
When:
Taste of Chicago Dates: June 26 through July 5, 2009
Hours:
11:00 a.m. - 9:00 p.m. (the festival closes at 9:30 p.m. on July 3 and 4, 6:00 p.m. on July 5)
Admission:
Admission and events are free, but you obviously have to pay for food and drinks. Purchases are made by ticket only. Tickets are sold in strips of 12 for $8. Large items are generally 9-10 tickets, side portions 6-7 tickets, soft drinks 4 tickets. All daily restaurants offer a small "Taste" portion for 2-3 tickets -- a great way to sample a large variety of all the food available.
Getting to Taste of Chicago By Public Transportation:
CTA bus lines #145 or #151 to Monroe/Michigan stop. Grant Park is also a short walk east from Loop Red and Blue line subway stops.
Parking at Taste of Chicago:
There is no parking on festival grounds, but there are several nearby garages: Parking garages are located at the Millennium Park Garage accessed on Columbus between Randolph and Monroe, the Monroe Street Garage at Monroe & Columbus, and the Grant Park garage with entrances at Michigan and Madison or Michigan and Randolph.
Independence Eve Fireworks:
Fireworks at the Taste of Chicago are not held on the traditional Fourth of July, but rather the night before on July 3. The Chicago fireworks are a spectacular display of over 5,000 aerial devices and shells. Festivities kick off at 7:30 p.m. with a performance by the Grant Park Orchestra at the Petrillo Music Shell, with the fireworks display beginning at 9:30 p.m. Over one million people attend Chicago's Independence Eve fireworks, so plan on plenty of extra time coming and going.
An introduction to Taste of Chicago: The latest iteration of Chicago's largest outdoor food and music festival will feature a new layout, fewer vendors, a renewed focus on health and a strong sense of value.
20090704 Taste of Chicago 003
20090704 Taste of Chicago 003