Taste of Chicago: How a Picnic on Michigan Avenue Became a Festival
The first Taste of Chicago was one day, July 4, 1980, on three blocks of Michigan Avenue. Organizers expected 100,000 people. More than 250,000 came. Here's how it grew.
It started with a restaurant owner, a mayor, and three blocks of Michigan Avenue. It became one of the biggest food festivals in the world.
July 4, 1980
The first Taste of Chicago was held on July 4, 1980. Restaurateur Arnie Morton (of Morton's steakhouse fame) had seen a similar event in New York and lined up Chicago restaurants to sell samples. He talked Mayor Jane Byrne into closing Michigan Avenue for it.
The first Taste took up three blocks of Michigan Avenue just north of the river.
Organizers expected about 100,000 people. More than 250,000 showed up. Food and drink sales came to about $300,000 in one day.
Moving to Grant Park
The next year, the Taste moved to Grant Park and grew: more days, more restaurants, and music. For years it ran for a week and a half around the Fourth of July, with fireworks and big concerts, and it was called the largest food festival in the world.
The Taste in later years
The festival has changed a lot since its peak:
- Fewer days
- Different times of year in some years
- Concert lineups that come and go
- Neighborhood "Taste" events around the city
The idea hasn't changed: walk around, buy tickets, try food from a lot of Chicago restaurants in one place.
What people remember
- Turkey legs
- Cheesecake and Eli's
- Pizza by the slice
- Crowds, heat and lines
- The Fourth of July fireworks
The other summer festival
Before the Taste took over, the big summer party was ChicagoFest on Navy Pier. For a few years in the early '80s, Chicago had both.
For more yearly traditions, see the Chicago Marathon, the Air and Water Show, and dyeing the river green.