Taste of Chicago runs from June 30 to July 8, 2007. The popular free festival attracts crowds who love food, music, entertainment, fireworks and fun.

The Taste of Chicago in Grant Park is starting their food festival with music, entertainment and plenty of great food at the world's largest food and free music festival. The food festival runs from June 29- July 28, 2007. The festival is free. Tickets are sold for purchase of food at the 70 different food vendors.

The Taste of Chicago was originally a one day food festival in 1980, on the Fourth of July. The event was a huge success, surpassing all expectations. Taste of Chicago has grown to one of the biggest summer events in Chicago, Illinois.

Taste of Chicago was started as a food festival, and continues with that tradition. Chicago area food vendors sell foods by the taste or by the meal. There are 70 different vendors selling Chicago favorites, such as ribs, pizza, Italian beef, cheesecake, dessert, ice cream, coffee, candy, baked goods, Italian food, Mexican food, Asian food, Vietnamese cuisine, Thai cuisine, Latin food, African cuisine, Creole-Cajun, chocolate, Indian food,Persian food, pub food and American style food. There are so many types of food that everyone should find something they like to eat at the Taste of Chicago! The difficult part is choosing which of the many great foods to eat.

Fireworks

On Tuesday, July 3, the Macy's Independence Day Fireworks Spectacular will astound onlookers to the tunes of the Grant Park Orchestra.

Two additional fireworks displays will light the skies on July 4 at 9:30 pm and July 5 at 9 pm

Music

The Petrillo Music Shell presents free entertainment. The City of Chicago schedule of entertainment includes:

Friday, June 29, 5:30 pm MAZE featuring Frankie Beverly, Lorenzo Owens.

Saturday, June 30, 3:00 pm: Kenny Rogers

Sunday, July 1, 3:30 pm: Sara Evans, Craig Morgan (Best Buy)

Sunday, July 1, 6:30 pm; "Walk the Line" will show on the big movie screen in Butler Field.

Monday, July 2: 6:00 pm: City of Chicago presents Broadway in Chicago, headlined by the casts of Wicked" and "The Color Purple"

Tuesday, July 3, 8:00 pm: City of Chicago presents Grant Park Orchestra and the Macy's Independence Eve Fireworks Spectacular.

Wednesday, July 4, 3:00 pm John Mayer, Robert Randolph & The Family Band, Rodrigo Y Gabriela (93XRT)

Thursday, July 5, 5:30 pm: Lyle Jennings, Musiq Soulchild (WGCI FM)

Friday, July 6, : 5:30 pm: The Black Crowes, Umphrey's McGee (US Cellular)

Saturday, July 7, 5:00 pm:Cheap Trick, Soul Asylum, Cracker (Bud Light)

Sunday, July 8, 3:00 pm: Los Lonely Boys

Illinois Lottery Taste Stage presents pop, rock, R&B, groove rock, Motown, Latin music, swing, jazz, blues, soul, rockabilly, alternative, folk, Cuban, Afro, Gospel and more.

On Sunday, July 1 there is a fitness race, "Bally Total Fitness Race to Taste 5K Run and 2-Mile Walk.

Parking: Taste of Chicago attracts a large crowd so public transportation is encouraged. Parking is not available on the festival grounds. There are parking garages located a the Millennium Park Garage and the Grant Park Underground in Chicago, IL.

Public Transportation in Chicago: Travel to from the suburbs via the Metra train is convenient and saves the expense of finding a parking space. During the summer months, The City of Chicago has a free trolley that travels to the most popular destinations, including Metra Union Station, Metra Ogilvy Station, Macy's, Navy Pier, The Magnificent Mile, Millennium Park, Art Institute, Buckingham Fountain, Adler Planetarium, Shedd Aquarium, Field Museum, Grant Park and the Lincoln Park Zoo.

Hotels: Chicago has many fine hotels for festival goers who are traveling distances, who may party late into night, or who want to attend more than one day of festivities. Consider a convenient downtown Chicago hotel for a comfortable overnight stay in Chicago, Illinois. Fine hotels near Grant Park in Chicago include: Hilton Chicago, The Palmer House Hilton, Crowne Plaza Chicago - Silversmith, Best Western Grant Park. Hotel Burnham and Hotel Monaco Chicago.

Information subject to change.