Quite a few travellers book cheap flights to Chicago for a taste of the windy city’s hospitality. One of the best times to visit the destination is the ‘Taste of Chicago’ food festival. This festival is supposed to be the biggest of its kind in the world.
Travellers planning to take their flights to Chicago just before 24th June are lucky indeed. Yes, the allusion is to the mega event ‘Taste of Chicago’. Tentatively slated to be held from 24th June to 3rd July, the Taste of Chicago is biggest event in Chicago and also the largest outdoor food festival in the world. More than 3 million visitors attend this festival every year. As of now, the timings are 9:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m. and as per the present schedule, the festival will come to an end at 7:00 p.m. on 3rd July. Taste of Chicago has definitely come a long way since its humble beginnings as a somewhat small food festival in 1980.
Food
The menu includes over 300 varieties of food items from more than 70 food vendors and restaurants. So, if you are booking your cheap flights to Chicago, look forward to a delightful travel experience of a world of local Chicago as well as multi ethnic culinary wonders. Right from giant Turkey legs to goat biryani and banana dumplings filled with minced pork and a dozens of other cuisines in between are served here. One also gets the chance to watch Chicago’s top most wine experts and chefs in action at the Dominick’s Cooking Corner. For food buffs, the Chicago Food Festival is probably the best time for booking flights to Chicago.
Musical Delights
Music freaks catching their cheap flights to Chicago can also look forward to some gala moments. Heart pounding, free concerts are held on every single day of the entire length of the festival. The most in demand performances take place at the Petrillo Music Shell, where well known music personalities entertain the crowds. Local and regional acts are also held on the numerous other stages. The Petrillo Music Shell has a limited seating space and no tickets are sold for the performances. Entry is granted on a first come first serve basis. So, if you don’t want to miss out on the fun, be there as early as possible. The place opens half an hour before the start of performances. One can also sit in the lawn. In fact, quite a few guests even bring their own chairs.
Charges
By and large, 'The Chicago Food Festival’ is a free event. However, food and drinks are not available for free. Guests are permitted to bring their own meals but it makes no sense to do so as food is the star attraction at the festival. Purchases can exclusively be made through tickets. The tickets are available in strips and every strip has 12 tickets. These strips cost $8. While soft drinks require about 4 tickets, 6-7 tickets are required for side portions, and 9 to 10 tickets for large items. If you are a die hard food buff, try out the small ‘Taste’ portion offered by the daily restaurants for 2 to 3 tickets. This way, one gets to dig into many of the cuisines available at the Taste of Chicago.
Useful Information on Taste of Chicago
The venue is Grant Park north-south between Balbo Drive and Monroe Avenue, east/west between Lake Shore Drive and Michigan Avenue.
Visitors can use Mastercard, Visa, and American Express credit cards for buying the tickets for food and beverages. One needs to carry adequate identification proof for using a card.
If you have infants, try to use a baby carrier or sling instead of a stroller as the ‘Taste of Chicago’ is a heavily crowded affair. If a stroller is indispensable, try to get hold of the smallest possible one.
If you plan to take your pet dog on your Chicago holidays, be informed that dogs are not allowed on the grounds of the ‘Taste of Chicago’.
Travellers planning to take their flights to Chicago just before 24th June are lucky indeed. Yes, the allusion is to the mega event ‘Taste of Chicago’. Tentatively slated to be held from 24th June to 3rd July, the Taste of Chicago is biggest event in Chicago and also the largest outdoor food festival in the world. More than 3 million visitors attend this festival every year. As of now, the timings are 9:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m. and as per the present schedule, the festival will come to an end at 7:00 p.m. on 3rd July. Taste of Chicago has definitely come a long way since its humble beginnings as a somewhat small food festival in 1980.
Food
The menu includes over 300 varieties of food items from more than 70 food vendors and restaurants. So, if you are booking your cheap flights to Chicago, look forward to a delightful travel experience of a world of local Chicago as well as multi ethnic culinary wonders. Right from giant Turkey legs to goat biryani and banana dumplings filled with minced pork and a dozens of other cuisines in between are served here. One also gets the chance to watch Chicago’s top most wine experts and chefs in action at the Dominick’s Cooking Corner. For food buffs, the Chicago Food Festival is probably the best time for booking flights to Chicago.
Musical Delights
Music freaks catching their cheap flights to Chicago can also look forward to some gala moments. Heart pounding, free concerts are held on every single day of the entire length of the festival. The most in demand performances take place at the Petrillo Music Shell, where well known music personalities entertain the crowds. Local and regional acts are also held on the numerous other stages. The Petrillo Music Shell has a limited seating space and no tickets are sold for the performances. Entry is granted on a first come first serve basis. So, if you don’t want to miss out on the fun, be there as early as possible. The place opens half an hour before the start of performances. One can also sit in the lawn. In fact, quite a few guests even bring their own chairs.
Charges
By and large, 'The Chicago Food Festival’ is a free event. However, food and drinks are not available for free. Guests are permitted to bring their own meals but it makes no sense to do so as food is the star attraction at the festival. Purchases can exclusively be made through tickets. The tickets are available in strips and every strip has 12 tickets. These strips cost $8. While soft drinks require about 4 tickets, 6-7 tickets are required for side portions, and 9 to 10 tickets for large items. If you are a die hard food buff, try out the small ‘Taste’ portion offered by the daily restaurants for 2 to 3 tickets. This way, one gets to dig into many of the cuisines available at the Taste of Chicago.
Useful Information on Taste of Chicago
The venue is Grant Park north-south between Balbo Drive and Monroe Avenue, east/west between Lake Shore Drive and Michigan Avenue.
Visitors can use Mastercard, Visa, and American Express credit cards for buying the tickets for food and beverages. One needs to carry adequate identification proof for using a card.
If you have infants, try to use a baby carrier or sling instead of a stroller as the ‘Taste of Chicago’ is a heavily crowded affair. If a stroller is indispensable, try to get hold of the smallest possible one.
If you plan to take your pet dog on your Chicago holidays, be informed that dogs are not allowed on the grounds of the ‘Taste of Chicago’.
