Zócalo Group town square blog

The Taste of Chicago is the world’s largest food festival, drawing millions of visitors every year to sample Chicago’s world-renowned culinary scene. With more than 70 food vendors and dozens of music acts, there’s not enough time or stomach space to take it all in. Here are our recommended festival picks:

1.       Take in a free concert 

The concerts at Petrillo Music Shell feature a variety of star acts, from indie darlings Death Cab for Cutie to ‘70s R&B legend Chaka Khan to country artist Dierks Bentley. Chicago native Jennifer Hudson is sure to knock it out of the park Wednesday, July 11 at 5:30 p.m. Hudson’s classic American success story – overcoming humble beginnings and personal tragedy – and powerhouse vocals have made her a superstar. Michael Franti & Spearhead will bring their unique blend of hip-hop, funk and reggae Friday, July 13 at 5:30 p.m. The band balances a fun, danceable sound with lyrics focused on peace and social justice. In other words, there will be plenty of barefoot dancing on the lawn.

Lawn seating is free and stadium seats can be purchased for $25 on site. A second stage features an additional 30 smaller acts. For the full lineup, visit explorechicago.org.

2.       See celebrity chefs do their thing at the Dominick’s Cooking Corner

Most of the Celebrity Chef du Jour events may be sold out, but you can still get a peek of some celebrity chefs at the Dominick’s Cooking Corner. Cooking demonstrations will run each day. Top picks include MasterChef judge Graham Elliot Friday, July 13 at 2: 30 p.m. and Top Chef star and Girl & the Goat chef Stephanie Izard Saturday, July 14 at 2:30 p.m.

3.       Taste a new bite of Chicago’s culinary scene at Pop-Up Restaurants

This new feature gives restaurants a chance to be at the festival without the commitment of staffing a booth for five days. You can sample food from a restaurant in a neighborhood you don’t usually visit. Interesting picks include 75^th Street’s Café Trinidad and North Park’s The Kronor.

Find out more about the Taste and plan your visit at explorechicago.org.