Taste of Chicago 2009 is Chicago's biggest event. Getting its start as a modest food festival on the Fourth of July in 1980, the Taste of Chicago has grown to be the world's largest outdoor food fest -- a gastronomical extravaganza attracting upwards of 3 million people each year.

Where:
Grant Park -- north/south between Monroe Avenue and Balbo Drive, east/west between Michigan Avenue and Lake Shore Drive.

Hours:
11:00 a.m. - 9:00 p.m. (the festival closes at 9:30 p.m. on July 3 and 4, 6:00 p.m. on July 5)

Admission:
Admission and events are free, but you obviously have to pay for food and drinks. Purchases are made by ticket only. Tickets are sold in strips of 12 for $8. Large items are generally 9-10 tickets, side portions 6-7 tickets, soft drinks 4 tickets. All daily restaurants offer a small "Taste" portion for 2-3 tickets -- a great way to sample a large variety of all the food available.

Fireworks at the Taste of Chicago are not held on the traditional Fourth of July, but rather the night before on July 3. The Chicago fireworks are a spectacular display of over 5,000 aerial devices and shells. Festivities kick off at 7:30 p.m. with a performance by the Grant Park Orchestra at the Petrillo Music Shell, with the fireworks display beginning at 9:30 p.m. Over one million people attend Chicago's Independence Eve fireworks, so plan on plenty of extra time coming and going.

• Add to calendar
• Invite Friends
• Print