The 29th Annual Taste of Chicago will fill Grant Park June 26-July 5, 2009, with food from local restaurants and music. The park will have a new layout that will make it easier to navigate to your favorite food booths. The popular festival features an abundance of food and entertainment for kids and adults.
There will be 56 food booths at this year’s festival. The festival has reduced the number of food vendors, so that the food area should be less congested. Admission to the popular food festival is free. Each food booth will be offering two Taste of portions. A Taste of portion is a smaller serving for 2-4 tickets; so you can sample different types of food for less money.
Taste of Chicago food and beverage tickets are sold in strips of 12 for only $8; advance purchase at a reduced rate with a Fresh Values Card is available at participating Dominick’s locations beginning June 18-25, while supplies last.
On the north end near Jackson, visit the Family Village and enjoy entertainment just for kids on the Fun-Time Stage where you can also see the Battle of the Bands (Ages 13-18) on June 28th and see the future of entertainment with the Taste of Talent Contest (Ages 4-14) on Sunday, July 5. Family Village includes rides such as the Carousel and new this year, the Crazy Plane.Back by popular demand are the Budweiser Clydesdales, now located in the North Rose Garden. Festival goers can see these magnificent animals up close during their visit to Taste, June 28-July 2. On Jackson and Lake Shore Drive, Best Buy hosts a stage of music that plays all day long.
Following is the line up of entertainment at the Petrillo Music Shell at Taste of Chicago.
- Friday, June 26 – 5:30 Charlie Wilson of the Gap Band Cameo (presented by City of Chiag & V103)
- Saturday, June 27 – 5 pm Counting Crows and Augustana (City of Chicago and Bud Light Music)
- Sunday, June 28 – 5 pm The Wallflowers and Lovehammer (City of Chicago)
- Monday, June 29 at 6 pm – Broadway in Chicago Concert at Taste (City of Chicago)
- Tuesday, June 30 at 5:30 pm – Barenaked Ladies (City of Chicago)
- Wednesday, July 1 at 5:30 pm – Ne – Yo and Keri Hilson (City of Chicago & WGCI)
- Thursday, July 2 at 5:30 pm – Super Diamond and Afrodisiacs (City of Chicago)
- Friday, July 3 at 7:30 pm – The 85th Army Band (City of Chicago)
- Saturday, July 4 at 3 pm – Buddy Guy, Guster & Booker T & the DBT’s (City of Chiag o& 93XRT)
- Sunday, July 5 at 2:30 pm – Mitchel Musso and Jordan Pruitt (Radio Disney AM 1300 Chicago)
The City of Chicago encourages the use of public transportation for the heavily attended festival, to reduce traffic congestion. 
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