Foodies, rejoice - it's Taste of Chicago time once again.
The iconic annual festival kicks off Wednesday, bringing plenty of food, drinks and music to the city's Grant Park.
Running from July 11-15, this marks the 38th year the Taste of Chicago will bring hundreds of menu items from around the city for festivalgoers to sample.
Here's what you need to know if you're planning to attend:
Date, Time, Location
Date: July 11-15, 2018
Place: Grant Park (Jackson Blvd. & Columbus Dr.) Chicago, IL 60602
Local
Hours: Wednesday-Friday: 11am-9pm, Saturday & Sunday: 10am-9pm
Ticket sales end at 8:30 p.m. [[487826901, C]]
Admission
Entering the festival is free but food and beverage tickets will need to be purchased. Those will be sold in strips of 14 tickets for $10.
Street Closures
The following streets will be closed during the Taste of Chicago through Monday, July 16 at 4 p.m.:
- Columbus, from Monroe to Balbo and from Balbo to Roosevelt (Balbo remains open to traffic)
- Jackson, from Michigan to Lake Shore Drive
- Congress, from Columbus to Congress Parkway semi-circle
Transportation
CTA: From the elevated lines: exit at Adams/Wabash. From the subway: exit at Jackson and walk several blocks east. For travel information, visit www.transitchicago.com
Parking: Park near Grant Park and enjoy the nation's premier outdoor food festival, Taste of Chicago 2017! Garage locations are Grant Park North Garage at 25 N. Michigan Ave., Grant Park South Garage at 325 S. Michigan Ave., and Millennium Park Garage and Millennium Lakeside Garage located at 5 S. Columbus Drive. More info here.
Biking: Bike parking is available on the perimeter of Grant and Millennium Parks. Visit the Chicago Bicycle Program for maps, safety, and other information. [[481526441, C]]
Headliners and Performance Schedule
Petrillo Music Shell
Wednesday, July 11, 5:30 p.m.
Martha Redbone Roots Project
Brandi Carlile
Thursday, July 12, 5:30 p.m.
La Santa Cecilia
Juanes
Friday, July 13, 5:30 p.m.
Madame Gandhi
Black Star
Saturday, July 14, 4:30 p.m.
Half Gringa
Le Butcherettes
The Flaming Lips
Sunday, July 15, 4:30 p.m.
The Boy Illinois
BJ the Chicago Kid
George Clinton Parliament Funkadelic
Bud Light Stage
(subject to change)
Wednesday, July 11
Noon–1 p.m. Raii and Whitney (R&B)
1:20–2:20 p.m. You Are Here (Rock)
2:40–3:40 p.m. NDPNDNT (Hip Hop)–ChicagoMade A&R Auditions Winner
4–5 p.m. Kiara Lanier (Alt/R&B)
5:20–6:20 p.m. Archie Powell & The Exports (Rock)
6:20–7:20 p.m. DJ Mike P
Thursday, July 12
Noon–1 p.m. Co-still (Hip Hop)
1:20–2:20 p.m. Lester Rey (Contemporary Latin)
2:40–3:40 p.m. Aniba Hotep & the Sol Collective (Soul/R&B)
4–5 p.m. Dave Weld (Blues)
5:20–6:20 p.m. Marina City (Rock)–ChicagoMade A&R Auditions Winner
6:20–7:30 p.m. DJ Mike P
Friday, July 13
Noon–1 p.m. Black Bear Combo (Balkan Brass Band)
1:20–2:20 p.m. Friday Pilots Club (Rock)
2:40–3:40 p.m. Beats y Bateria (Global Electronic)
4–5 p.m. Matt Muse (Hip Hop)–ChicagoMade A&R Auditions Winner
5:20–6:20 p.m. MASN (Pop/R&B)–ChicagoMade A&R Auditions Winner
6:20–7:30 p.m. DJ Mike P
Saturday, July 14
11–11:40 a.m. DJ Mike P
Noon–1 p.m. CASE (Pop)
1:20–2:20 p.m. Kingfatz (Hip Hop)
2:40–3:40 p.m. Fee Lion (Electro/Pop)
4–5 p.m. Emann & Jojo (Hip Hop)–ChicagoMade A&R Auditions Winner
5:20–6:20 p.m. Bianca Shaw (R&B/Hip Hop)
6:20–7:30 p.m. DJ Mike P
Sunday, July 15
11–11:40 a.m. DJ Mike P
Noon–1 p.m. Young DRA (Hip Hop)
1:20–2:20 p.m. The Claudettes (Indie Blues)
2:40–3:40 p.m. Adam Ness (Alt R&B)–ChicagoMade A&R Auditions Winner
4–5 p.m. Emily Blue (Pop)–ChicagoMade A&R Auditions Winner
5:20–6:20 p.m. Sa’Rayah (Soul/R&B)
6:20–7:30 p.m. DJ Mike P [[478186723, C]]
Food Vendors
A total of 73 vendors will participate in the event, including 38 five-day vendors, 22 pop-up restaurants, and 13 food trucks, according to the Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events.
Here is a list of the new restaurants that will be participating in the event:
Aloha Wagon
Arun’s Thai Restaurant
Aunty Joy’s Jamaican Kitchen
Bee Nana LLC
bettyBOT Shop
BITES
Blackwood BBQ
CheSa’s Gluten
Chiya Chai Café
Classic Cobbler
Esperanza’s Kitchen Delights
Garifuna Flava: A Taste of Belize
Get Off the Couch Catering
Grill City
Josephine’s Cookin’
Lawrence’s Fish
Output Lounge & Sports Bar
Papa Luke’s Gravy Balls
Premier Rollin BBQ
So Forking Great
Sun Wah Barbecue Restaurant
These Wingz?
Turtle’s Bar & Grill
Wood Fire Counter
Yum Dum
