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Live entertainment, family-friendly activities, interactive art and a drone and fireworks show among standout Grant Park attractions at the 45th annual Taste of Chicago, Sept. 5-7

CHICAGO – Taste of Chicago returns to Grant Park for the grand finale of the city’s signature food and music festival, Sept. 5-7, 2025, from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. each day. Free and open to the public, attendees are invited to “taste” samplings from more than 50 food vendors and food trucks representing Chicago’s diverse culinary scene, as well as enjoy world-class musical performances.

This year’s festival will also feature an assortment of activations and experiences throughout the weekend. From amazing musical acts, the return of the Ferris wheel, karaoke competitions and even a drone and fireworks show, the Taste of Chicago has something for all to enjoy.

Goose Island Stage Lineup
The Goose Island Stage will spotlight Chicago deejays HotRod & DJ BMan, Janesita and Gant Man among a collection of local performers. Located at the intersection of Columbus and Jackson Drives, performances will include music from multiple genres including hip hop, R&B and neo soul, house, jazz, bachata, urban sierreño and more. For the full lineup, visit TasteOfChicago.us.

Ferris Wheel
Beyond the delectable bites and rhythmic grooves, Taste of Chicago will take attendees to new heights with sweeping views of the city from a 112-foot-tall observation wheel at the festival. Guests of all ages can enjoy the ride, and thanks to an ADA-accessible gondola, everyone can get a taste of the fun. Ticket prices are $10 for children and $12 for adults.

Disney Resorts Family Village
Families can look forward to an action-packed experience in the Disney Resorts Family Village featuring a variety of interactive inflatables and games, including bouncy houses, giant slides, a thrilling obstacle course, and safe inflatable axe throwing. Guests can also enjoy the always-popular Pop-A-Shot mini basketball game, making this a must-stop spot for family-friendly fun all festival long.

Eli’s Cheesecake and Taste of Chicago Birthday Celebration
On Saturday, Sept. 6, at 12:30 p.m., original Taste of Chicago vendor Eli’s Cheesecake will celebrate their 45th birthday with a special cake cutting of a 1,000 lb. birthday cheesecake. This year’s ceremonial cake-cutters include:

• Lupe Fiasco, Chicago-born, Grammy-winning rapper, record producer and community advocate fresh off his Friday-night Taste mainstage headlining performance.
• Sarah Ramos, multihyphenate writer, director, producer and actress in Chicago’s biggest shows like THE BEAR and Chicago Med.
• Karen Rodriguez, star of Netflix’s hit series, The Hunting Wives, and long-time Chicago mainstay at the Steppenwolf for productions POTUS, The Seagull, I Am Not Your Perfect Mexican Daughter and more.

The giant cheesecake will feature Eli's 45th Birthday flavor, Cheesecake Sundae, along with layers of Original Plain and Chocolate Chip varieties. After singing “Happy Birthday” with the crowd and celebrity cake-cutters, free slices of the supersized treat will be served to the public, while supplies last.

Drone and Fireworks Show
New this year, Taste of Chicago guests will be dazzled by a drone and fireworks show Saturday, Sept. 6, at 8:15 p.m. to close out the second day of the festival. The drone show will delight all with its fusion of technology, music and pure hometown pride. Fireworks along Lake Michigan will follow directly after lighting up the night.

The Taste of Karaoke and Neighborhood Trivia
Karaoke is officially back for this year’s Taste of Chicago. “The Taste of Karaoke,” hosted by People’s Stage Karaoke and Kombi Chicago, invites amateur singers to showcase their talent on Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Contestants 18 and older can belt out their favorite hits over three exciting rounds for a chance at a $500 grand prize. Eligible karaoke contestants can register for the competition online. All participants must check in on-site, present a valid ID, and sign a waiver before competing. Online registration provides priority placement ahead of same-day walk-up contestants, but participants still need to complete check-in to secure a spot.

Guests can also showcase their Chicago knowledge during “Neighborhood Trivia” at the karaoke stage, featuring fun, tailored questions for each of the city’s 77 neighborhoods.

Run Mag Mile
Run Mag Mile® presented by HOKA takes place in partnership with Taste of Chicago Saturday morning, September 6. Starting from inside the Taste at Buckingham Fountain at 7 a.m., over 6,500 participants will choose from a 5K or 10K run/walk, earn exclusive swag and access to the Taste of Chicago brunch post-race party with artists The Divas and Joey Purp. Runners will also receive exclusive access to select Taste of Chicago vendors and complimentary tastings. For more information and please visit www.runmagmile.com.

Somos Arte Chicago
Somos Arte Chicago is excited to bring hands-on creativity to this year’s Taste of Chicago. The nonprofit group will host free family-friendly art workshops where kids and parents can explore their imaginations together. From colorful crafts to interactive projects, the workshops are designed to celebrate culture, community, and creativity. Stop by, make art and take home your own masterpiece as a memory of the festival.

Design Museum “Flag Feast”
The Design Museum of Chicago presents “Flag Feast: A–Z,” a flavorful fusion of food, typography and culture. This outdoor design exhibition and interactive arts activation invites guests to design their own flag alongside the Chicago Graphic Design Club, while exploring a gallery of 26 Chicago-based artists—each interpreting a different letter of the alphabet through bold visual language. The outdoor exhibition serves up a rich menu of design styles and cultural perspectives. “Flag Feast” turns flags into vibrant storytelling tools—each one a dish seasoned with heritage, letterforms, and the flavors of Chicago’s diverse communities.

Sip, Sample & Celebrate at Taste of Chicago!
This year, Taste of Chicago is serving up a one-of-a-kind beverage menu that’s as bold, creative, and diverse as the city itself. An enhanced menu of craft cocktails, wine varietals, sangria, Pepsi products and plenty of non-alcoholic options offers attendees refreshing beverage options to pair with the delicious food.  

Raise a glass to Chicago’s skyline with imaginative hand-crafted cocktails like the Chicago Spritz (a Malört based cocktail for a true Taste of Chicago!) to the return of Adult Slushies in fresh new flavors. Plus, a refreshing Non-Alcoholic Blueberry Strawberry-Lemonade for all ages to enjoy.  

Goose Island Beer Hall
Step inside Goose Island’s pop-up beer hall featuring 8 flavorful brews, along with guest brewery, Hop Butcher for the World, bringing two Chicago originals: the Bears-inspired hazy DIPA Super Beer Shuffle and Gyro Gyro Gyro.  

For the ultimate Chicago twist, Goose Island’s legendary converted L train car will roll back through Grant Park, pouring an assortment of draft beers and beer flights for the perfect tasting adventure.

Main Stage Artist Lineup
Headlining musical performances at the Taste Main Stage will feature exciting cross-genre talent: Lupe Fiasco, the Grammy-winning and chart-topping hip hop artist from Chicago performs on Friday; JoJo, the pop-R&B singer with powerhouse vocals, holds her set on Saturday; and international Latin superstar Elvis Crespo closes the weekend on Sunday with his high-energy merengue hits.

Food vendors for the Taste of Chicago 2025 include African Food Palace, Arepa George, Badou Senegalese Cuisine, Banato, Beat Kitchen Cantina, Billy Goat Tavern, BJ’s Market & Bakery, ChefLife19/Chef Maurice, Chicago Eats Market Place, Chicago’s Doghouse, Chillafry, Churro Factory (Xurro), Connie’s Pizza, Crave Cookies, Cumin Indian Eats, Dao Thai Restaurant, Donut Dudes, Doom Streets Eats, Esperanza, Franco’s Ristorante, Frannie’s Café, Gaby Funnel Cakes, Harold’s Chicken, Hubbard Inn, JJ Thai Street Food, Josephine’s Southern Cooking, Khmai, Lexington Betty Smoke House, Lou Malnati’s Pizzeria, Moore Poppin Gourmet Popcorn, Ponce Restaurant, Porkchop, Prime Tacos, Robinson’s No. 1 Ribs, Sapori Trattoria, Seoul Taco, Star of Siam, Tacotlan, Tandoor Char House, The Eli’s Cheesecake Company, The Original Rainbow Cone, The Sole Ingredient Catering, Thimi’s Empanadas, Yum Dum and a wide variety of food truck vendors.

Taste of Chicago 2025 is made possible through the generous support of its sponsors and partners, whose contributions help enhance the festival experience for all attendees. Featured sponsored areas include the Goose Island Stage and Disney Resorts Family Village. Additional support is provided by Capital Vacations, Chicago Transit Authority, Chicago White Sox, Eli’s Cheesecake, Humana, Illinois Lottery, Millennium Garages, NRG Energy, Pepsi and Rivian.

For more information and the full event lineup, visit Chicago.gov/Taste and follow this flavorful festival on Facebook at the Taste of Chicago.

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Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events
The City of Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events (DCASE) supports artists and cultural organizations, invests in the creative economy, and expands access and participation in the arts throughout Chicago’s 77 neighborhoods. As a collaborative cultural presenter, arts funder, and advocate for creative workers, our programs and events serve Chicagoans and visitors of all ages and backgrounds, downtown and in diverse communities across our city — to strengthen and celebrate Chicago. DCASE produces some of the city’s most iconic festivals, markets, events, and exhibitions at the Chicago Cultural Center, Millennium Park, and in communities across the city — serving a local and global audience of 25 million people. The Department offers cultural grants and resources, manages public art, supports TV and film production and other creative industries, and permits special events throughout Chicago. For details, visit Chicago.gov/DCASE and stay connected via our newsletters and social media.

Illinois Restaurant Association
Founded in 1914, the Illinois Restaurant Association is a non-profit organization dedicated to promoting, protecting, educating and improving the restaurant industry in Illinois. The Association manages the food portion of Taste of Chicago for the Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events. For more information, visit www.illinoisrestaurants.org and follow on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.