Community Corner

Taste of Chicago 2013: Your Complete Guide

From this year's vendors to helpful tips we have everything you need to know before heading over to the Taste of Chicago.

By Dan Lambert

Dates and Time

Wednesday, July 10 - 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. 
Thursday, July 11 - 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. 
Friday, July 12 - 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. 
Saturday, July 13 - 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. 
Sunday, July 14 - 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. 

Where

Grant Park - Jackson Blvd. and Columbus Drive

Vendors

The full list of vendors is as follows: Abbey Pub & Restaurant, Bacino’s of Lincoln Park, Beat Kitchen, Billy Goat Inn, BJ’s Market & Bakery, Bobak Sausage Co., Bombay Spice Grill & Wine, Caffe Gelato, Carbon Live Fire Mexican Grill, Churro Factory, Connie’s Pizza, Cubby Bear Lounge, Ltd., Dominick’s, Eli’s Cheesecake, Flip Crepes, Franco’s Ristorante, The Fudge Pot, Gold Coast Dogs, Iyanze, Kasia’s Deli, Lao Ma La Chinese Restaurant, Lou Malnati’s Pizzeria, The Noodle Vietnamese, Oak Street Beach Café, O’Briens Restaurant, Original Rainbow Cone, Pazzo’s Cucina Italiana, Ricobene’s on 26th St., Robinson’s No. 1 Ribs, The Smoke Daddy, Star of Siam, Tuscany, Tutto Italiano, Vee-Vee’s African Restaurant, Wishbone Restaurant

Food Trucks

Leaping on the ever-growing food truck craze 14 different food trucks will be showcased at the fest. Get the full list and schedule by day of each one

Music Acts

Concerts You Need Tickets For
Tickets for this year's big performances are practically sold out, but this year features some big names like current chart-topper Robin Thicke, pop-rockers .Fun and the legendary Robert Plant.Get the full lineup with dates and times here.  Tickets are still available for Neon Trees and you can purchase those at TicketWeb

Free Performances
If you failed to plan ahead and missed out on this year's featured concerts, fear not. The Budweiser Stage will showcase 30 Chicago area bands. The full schedule of performers can be found on the Taste of Chicago site

For the Kids

Admission to the Family Village is free and the area will have family games, arts and crafts with area museums, face painting and a baby changing area with free diapers provided by Dominick's.

Street Closures

  • Columbus from Monroe to Balbo and from Balbo to Roosevelt (Balbo is open to traffic).
  • Jackson from Michigan Ave. to Lake Shore Drive and Congress from Michigan Ave. to Columbus.

Dos and Don'ts 

You can bring folding chairs to the Taste, but are not allowed to bring them into the area around the Petrillo Music Shell. Here is the list of things you should keep at home. Most should be pretty obvious. (We hope.): Alcoholic Beverages, BBQ Grills (Open Flames), Fireworks or ExplosiveIllegal Substances & Weapons, Pop-up Tents/Canopies, Beach/Picnic Umbrella, Flag Pole and All Pets (except Service Animals). 

Taste of Chicago Map

Can be found right here. 

Cost

Entry to the festival is free, however tickets are required to purchase food. Tickets are sold in groups of 12 for $8. Most of the smaller tasting portions range from one to five tickets. 

Booze, Bikes and Metra

If you plan to take Metra in you should be aware that there will be no bikes allowed on the train during fest days. On July 12 you can non have alcohol on the train after 7 p.m., and no alcohol will be allowed at all on July 13 and 14. Get the schedule for the BNSF line on Metra's site.


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