A Chi-town tradition dating back to 1980, Taste of Chicago is one of the most famous outdoor food festivals in the States. Along with dishing up classic Chicago favorites and diverse representations of all the communities who live and dine in the Windy City, this event also offers an array of live entertainment, activities, amusement-park-style rides and more. Plus, it all takes place in the heart of one of the most exciting metropolitan areas in the country -- so once you’ve had your fill of the fest, there’s still plenty more to see, do, and discover. Read on below to learn all the details you need to know to enjoy the Taste of Chicago!
Each year, dozens of local restaurants are represented, offering both full-size meals and smaller “taste of” portions to allow you to grab a bite of many different area specialties. There will also be amusement-park style rides, activities, and attractions fit for the whole family; for instance, past years have boasted zip lines, diving boards, and water slides, just to name a few options. For the full list of vendors, click here.
Jackson & Columbus
Chicago, IL 60602
Because Taste of Chicago is held in the heart of this major metropole, there’s no on-site RV camping. But that doesn’t mean you can’t bring an RV to the event!
Whether you drive your own rig from home or fly in and rent an RVshare vehicle once you get there, here are some RV camping options in the Chicago area.
If you’re not planning on bringing an RV to the event, you’ve got plenty of alternative accommodations to choose from. Chicago is one of the biggest cities in the country, and it’s chock-full of hotels and inns of every class and caliber.
Whether you’re looking for a lavish, historic suite that’ll make you feel like you’ve been transported back to the 1920s, or you’d rather cut costs and make new friends by staying in a hostel dorm room, you can find the exact kind of accommodations that’ll make you most comfortable at Choose Chicago. The helpful tool allows you to filter for specific amenities and narrow your search to particular neighborhoods of town.
To get you started on your search for the perfect place to stay, here are a few options in the Loop neighborhood, which is where Grant Park is situated:
This is just a small sampling of the accommodation options available in this area, so be sure to check out Choose Chicago for a more complete listing.
The closest parking options for those bringing their own vehicles are the facilities run by Millennium Garages, which own and operate several parking garages in town. Parking garage locations are as follows:
Grant Park North Garage
35 North Michigan Avenue
Grant Park South Garage
325 South Michigan Avenue
Millennium Park and Lakeside Garage
5 South Columbus Drive
These garages are pay-to-park facilities, but multi-day discount packages are available if you’re planning to attend for more than one day. Head to the Millenium Garage website for full pricing details and to purchase parking passes ahead of time.
One of the best parts of this event? It’s totally free to enter! However, you will have to purchase food and beverage tickets in order to partake of the vendors’ offerings.
Food and beverage tickets are sold in strips of 14 tickets for $10, and full portions run about 10-12 tickets. Smaller “taste of” portions are available at each booth for 3-6 tickets. Ticket sales end at 8:30pm.
Whether you make this tasty adventure in an RVshare rental or you wend your way to the Windy City by some other means, we’re eager to experience your journey right along with you! Send photos and trip details directly to us at [email protected], or tag us in your social media posts on Facebook and Instagram. And make sure you try some deep dish and a loaded hot dog for us!
Check out @TheTasteOfChicago on Facebook and @TasteofChi on Twitter for event updates!
Please note, this is not the official source of the event information. While we try to be as comprehensive as possible, some details may have changed since the time this article was written. Please confirm final details with the official event page.