This week, Chicago’s Grant Park has been filled with dozens of local vendors and restaurants for the city’s annual Taste of Chicago festival.
Over 80 vendors have booths at this year’s festival, showcasing a range of different cuisines offered in sample-sized and full-sized portions.
Attendees can find Asian, Mexican, African, Vietnamese and Korean dishes all within a less-than-a-mile span between Balbo Street and Monroe Street in Grant Park.
“We had some quesabirria tacos with some potstickers,” said Kara Wade, who traveled from Dayton, Ohio, to attend the festival.
The first Taste of Chicago was held on July 4, 1980, as a one-day event located on Michigan Avenue. The organizers had expected around 100,000 attendees, but an astounding 250,000 showed up. The festival was then moved to Grant Park to accommodate the demand, and has been held there ever since.
“I like that there’s music, and I like that the entire park is closed down, even where there’s no food stands,” Wade added.
The festival features a diverse roster of local artists and DJs, headliners this year included Beach Bunny, Common and Babyface.
The festival also includes Chicago SummerDance, which offers free dancing lessons and social dancing by Buckingham Fountain. Attendees can learn salsa, Argentine tango, line dancing and the cha-cha.
Street performers line the park, playing instruments, selling balloon animals and offering cooking demonstrations.
“I’m a foodie. The brisket mac was very good, this is my third or fourth year here, so I’ve tried pretty much everything.” said Jaylin Watkins, who traveled from Kentucky to attend the festival.
Esperanza’s Kitchen Delights, a Mexican kitchen exclusive to festivals that serves elote, tacos and pambazo, has had a booth at Taste of Chicago for five years.
Ximena Martinez and Mariana Gil, two employees of the booth, said that their elote cup has been their most popular dish this week.
“Especially with the weather right now, it’s one of the main things that everyone has been getting,” Martinez said.
While the streets are lined with returning attendees and tourists, local vendors are able to reach people who may have never had their food before.
Other popular Chicago restaurants such as Billy Goat Tavern and Lou Malnati’s Pizzeria are serving their popular dishes like signature deep dish pizza and tavern-style fries.
Aaron Wolfson, the owner of Chicago’s Dog House, located in Lincoln Park, has been bringing his booth to Taste of Chicago for 15 years, and said the cultural variety brings life to the event.
“More tourists are in town, and you can’t beat the weather here,” Wolfson said. “It’s all Chicago eateries, it’s a good mix of everything.”
Taste of Chicago will be open this weekend from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. on July 11 and 12. Admission is free.
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