By Polly Fitz
Taste of Chicago is known as a food fest — and for good reason: pizza, cheesecake, ribs and lots of "food on a stick" make for an almost overwhelming smorgasbord. But you may not know that Taste is also a music festival — with free concerts every day. Here are some details for this year’s festival.
Taste of Chicago runs June 27 through July 6 in Grant Park. Admission is FREE, but food tickets are $8 for 12 tickets (plus a $2 surcharge). Specialties from more than 65 restaurants are on the menu. Not surprisingly, there’s pizza (from at least 7 restaurants), and some of the other highlights include:
- Gyros and baklava from Costa’s restaurant
- Polish sausage sandwich with sauerkraut from Polka Sausage & Deli
- Fried dough, toasted cheese ravioli from Harry Caray’s
- Rainbow ice cream from the Original Rainbow Cone
- Guacamole and chips, pork tacos from Adobo Grill
Every night, Taste of Chicago offers free concerts in the Petrillo Music Shell. Here’s a partial lineup:
- Friday, June 27 — Chaka Khan
- Saturday June 28 — Stevie Wonder
- Sunday, June 29 — Josh Kelley
- Tuesday, July 1 — Joss Stone
- Friday, July 4 — Gomez
Here’s a tip: Chicago celebrates the Fourth of July early — with a concert and fireworks show on July 3. (There are more fireworks on the 4th.)
Many Chicago hotels are within walking distance of the Taste of Chicago, so you can be close to all the action. Hotel Burnham, Club Quarters Wacker at Michigan and Hotel Blake are just a few of the hotels close to Grant Park.
CheapTickets resources:
Polly Fitz is an editor for CheapTickets.
