My mouth is watering just thinking about it. My favorite summer festival (okay, my all-time favorite festival) is just a few short weeks away and my taste buds couldn’t be happier (my thighs, well they’re another story). The 27th annual Taste of Chicago kicks off on June 29th and I will once again be making the obligatory drive south to take in the sights, sounds and calories that make this summer event so memorable.
The 10-day food extravaganza includes more than 70 restaurants, cooking demonstrations and plenty of activities for the family. And, of course, no Taste is complete without the famous fireworks show, which takes place on July 3rd.
Yes, the Taste of Chicago is the premiere event of the summer in the Windy City (it attracts more than 3 million people), but it is far from the only festival in town. The following is a list of some other noteworthy family-friendly festivals hosted by one of my favorite cities in the world:
Chicago Country Music Festival—The Country Music Festival takes place during the Taste of Chicago and features local and national country artists along with food and merchandise booths.
African-Caribbean International Festival of Life—The 15th annual festival features more than 100 performances from Reggae, Calypso, R&B, Hip Hop, Jazz and Blues artists. It also includes traditional food, arts and crafts, and children’s activities. The festival takes place at 5500 S. Cottage Grove Avenue from July 4th to July 8th.
Lollapalooza—It is one of the biggest music events in the city and is located in picturesque Grant Park. The 3-day concert features bands such as Pearl Jam, Modest Mouse, and Regina Spektor. In addition to the extensive lineup of musical acts, there is also a ton of food, fashion and art booths to visit.
Northalsted Market Days— The 26th annual Northalsted Market Days takes place this year from August 11th to August 12th. It’s known as the largest two-day festival in the Midwest and features more than 40 musical acts, arts and crafts booths, a variety of food vendors and a play area for kids.
49th Annual Chicago Air & Water Show—This event is the oldest and largest free show in the country and takes place from August 18th to August 19th. It originates along the Lakefront near North Avenue Beach, but wherever you sit on the lakefront, you’re bound to have an amazing view of the show.
Taste of Greece— The annual Taste of Greece festival takes place in Greek town from August 25th to August 26th and features foods from local Greek restaurants. Aside from the food there will be two stages with live music, dancing, games, and a children’s play area.
To get additional information on any of the events listed above click here.
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