Taste of Des Plaines
Friday, June 19, 2026 | 5 p.m. to 11 p.m.
Saturday, June 20, 2026 | 12 p.m. to 11 p.m.
The Taste of Des Plaines is a two-day summer street festival that takes place on Ellinwood Street (between the Des Plaines Metra Station and the Des Plaines Public Library) in the heart of downtown. This event includes live entertainment on two stages, local restaurants serving their specialties, beer tents, and fun for the whole family.
Listen to live music beginning at 5 p.m. on Friday, June 19, and 1 p.m. on Saturday, June 20, and don’t forget to stop by our photo op. Kick off your summer by grabbing a bite to eat and listening to live music at Taste of Des Plaines!
Taste of Des Plaines is Cashless
The Taste of Des Plaines is a cashless event. Please note that food and alcohol purchases will require a debit card, credit card, or a cashless mobile payment application (Apple Pay, Google Pay). Taste of Des Plaines will NOT sell or require tickets to purchase food and alcohol.
Please note: no outside alcohol is permitted at the event. Beer, wine, seltzers, and other beverages are available for purchase at the beer tents.
Entertainment Lineup
Friday (6/19) Main Stage Lineup
Friday (6/19) World Stage Lineup
- 5:15 p.m. - 6:00 p.m. - Magic of Brian Holt
- 6:30 p.m. - School of Rock
Saturday (6/20) Main Stage Lineup
Saturday (6/20) World Stage Lineup
- 12:00 p.m. - 12:45 p.m. - MBD Martial Arts
- 1:00 p.m. - 2:00 p.m. - JG's Reptile Road Show
- 2:00 p.m. - 2:45 p.m. - Steve Belliveau Bubble Show
- 3:00 p.m. - 3:45 p.m. - Little Noise Theatre
- 4:00 p.m. - 4:45 p.m. - Jared the Juggler
- 5:05 p.m. - Youth Photo Contest Winner Announcement
- 5:15 p.m. - 5:45 p.m. - Big Noise Theatre
- 6:00 p.m. - 6:30 p.m. - OMG! Improv
- 6:30 p.m. - 8:00 p.m. - Mambo All Stars Trio
Food Vendors
This year’s Taste of Des Plaines features 10 local food vendors offering a wide variety of flavors and crowd favorites, including Charcoal Delights, Giuseppe’s Pizza, HD Cuisine, Karavan, Kona Ice, Mexico Restaurant, Midwest Smoke BBQ, Que Bola Cuban Cafe, Serna’s Grill, and Tiki Terrace (Hawaiian Food Truck).
Whether you're craving barbecue, pizza, Cuban specialties, or a sweet frozen treat, there’s something for every appetite.
Please note: Menus listed were accurate at the time of publication but are subject to change at the festival.
Charcoal Delights
Menu Items: Hamburger/Cheeseburger, Hot Dog, Bratwurst, Chicken Fingers, French Fries, Cheese Fries, Roasted Corn, Funnel Cake, Soda, Water, Gatorade
Giuseppe's Pizzeria
Menu Items: Pizza by the slice (Cheese, Pepperoni, or Sausage), Arancini with Marinara, Toasted Cheese Ravioli with Marinara, Italian Beef Egg Roll with Au Jus, Chicken Parmesan Egg Roll with vodka sauce, Mini Cannoli, Lemon Knots, Pellegrino Water, Pellegrino Soda, Water, Soda
HD Cuisine
Menu Items: Chicken Satay over Rice, Orange Chicken over Rice, Mongolian Beef, Penang Char Koay Teow (Stir Fry Rice Noodles), Appetizer Combo Plate, Malaysian Coffee, Thai Tea
Karavan
Menu Items: Plov, Chicken Shashlik, Lula Kebab
Kona Ice
Menu Items: Shaved Ice - Assorted Flavors
Mexico Restaurant
Menu Items: Tacos (Beef, Chicken, Steak, Al Pastor), Impossible Tacos, Burritos & Burrito Bowls (Beef, Chicken, Steak, Al Pastor), Impossible Burritos, Elotes, Flautas (Chicken or Potato), Carne Asada Fries, Chips & Guacamole, Beef Nachos, Rice & Beans, Horchata, Water, Soda
Midwest Smoke BBQ
Menu Items: Brisket Sandwich (Chopped), Pulled Pork Sandwich, Pork Belly Burnt Ends, Mac and Cheese, Mac and Cheese with Chopped Brisket, Mac and Cheese with Pulled Pork, Mac and Cheese with Pork Belly, Mac Daddy (Pulled Pork Sandwich topped with Mac and Cheese), Nachos topped with Brisket, Nachos topped with Pork, Chips, Water, Soda
Que Bola Cuban Cafe
Menu Items: Cubano Sandwich, Lechon Asado Sandwich, Empanads, Croquetas Ham, Soda, Water
Serna's Grill
Menu Items: Gyros (Regular and Monster portions), Chicken Pita, Assorted Monster Fries
The Tiki Terrace
Kalua Pork Sliders, Coconut Shrimp, Korean Short Ribs & Garlic Shrimp, Chicken Karaage, Potstickers, Tropical Cheesecake, Water, Soda
Sponsors
Sponsors
Main Stage Sponsor
World Stage Sponsor
- Town and Country Distributors
Silver Sponsors
- Bath Planet
- le Village
- TVG-Medulla LLC/Chiro One Wellness
- Oakton College
- Renewal by Andersen
- Semper Solr
- Sunrun
- Sysco
Bronze Sponsors
- Ozinga
- Village Bank and Trust
Artisans
Discover unique finds from local artisans and vendors offering fresh-baked goods, handcrafted décor, specialty items, and more. The marketplace will be open throughout the festival, with vendors selling until 11 p.m. on Friday and Saturday nights or until sold out.
Taste of Des Plaines Artisans
Family Activities
In addition to live entertainment on our World Stage, there will be free activities in the family area! This area will be open until 8 p.m. on both Friday and Saturday night.
Family Activities
Get ready for science fun! Purple Me Green The Science Truck will have 10 stations of STEM play for all ages, including meet and greet animal programs, state of matter play, and more.
Race your siblings, parents, friends, and family at the Taste of Des Plaines Speedway! Stop by the checkered dome in the family area for the micro-reality racing activity. Fun for both kids and adults.
Create your own work of art by peddling on a spin bike! Fun for all ages.
Creative Party Muses will be onsite for face painting, sparkly glitter tattoos, and cool airbrush tattoos. Be sure to visit their booth in the family area! Please note they accept cash or credit card.
Stop by The Fitzgerald Studio's Youth Photo Content to vote on your favorite "On My Street" photo. Visit the Fitzgerald Studio website for full details.
The Des Plaines Park District will have their 20-ft rock climbing wall available to climb. Please note the minimum weight to climb is 45 pounds, and maximum weight to climb is 250 pounds. Minimum height to climb is 42 inches. The climbing wall will close at dusk.
Visitor Info & Parking
Frequently Asked Questions
Will I be able to use cash anywhere at the event?
Cash will not be accepted for alcohol or restaurant purchases. However, exhibitors at the event (non-profit and artisan booths) may choose to receive cash for goods and services they are selling.
Why is the Taste of Des Plaines cashless?
The decision to go cashless at the Taste of Des Plaines is driven by several factors:
Convenience: Cashless operations streamline the purchasing process for attendees, eliminating the need to carry physical currency and reducing wait times at food and beverage vendors. This allows attendees to focus on enjoying the event.
Sustainability: Going cashless reduces the need for paper-based currency which aligns with eco-friendly practices and reduces the event's carbon footprint.
Efficiency: Electronic payments offer faster processing times and improved accuracy compared to handling cash.
Is there accessible parking?
Accessible parking spaces are available in the Library Parking Garage. For additional information, please see the “Parking” tab.
What are the festival hours?
Friday, June 19 from 5 p.m. to 11 p.m.
Saturday, June 20 from 12 p.m. to 11 p.m.
The family area and World Stage close at 8 p.m. both evenings.
What if it rains?
The event will be held rain or shine. Taste of Des Plaines will operate as normal until our Public Safety Team deems there is a severe weather threat.
Can I bring my dog?
They can join in on the paw-ty! Dogs are permitted at the festival as long as they are leashed/harnessed at all times and are always under a handler's control. There is a maximum of two dogs per handler. Please consider your pet's safety and comfort as this event draws large crowds.
Is the Metra station close by?
Yes! The Des Plaines Metra station borders the festival site. The Des Plaines station is located on the Union Pacific Northwest (UP-NW) line.
Parking and Transportation
Free parking is available in the Des Plaines Library Parking Garage, Civic Center Garage (behind City Hall) and the Metropolitan Square Parking Garage. Additional accessible parking spaces will be available in the main level of the Library Parking Garage and in the Metra commuter lot between Pearson and River Rd. Bike racks are located on Library Plaza and at the Metra train station for those biking to the event.
Des Plaines Library Parking Garage is located at 1448 E Prairie Ave., Des Plaines, IL 60016. The entrance is at the intersection of E. Prairie Ave. and Center St.
Entrances to the Civic Center Garage can be accessed off Lee St. or Jefferson St.
Metropolitan Square Parking Garage is located on Market St. in Des Plaines, IL 60016. Entrances can be accessed off Market St. or Metropolitan Way.
Bikes and E-Bikes
While attendees are encouraged to ride their bikes to the event, please note that the riding of bicycles, e-bikes, or other electric devices (such as scooters), is not permitted within the defined event space. Bike racks are located on Library Plaza and at the Metra train station for those biking to the event.
Transportation
Looking to take the train? The Des Plaines Metra station borders the festival site, with the Des Plaines station located on the Union Pacific Northwest (UP-NW) line.
For information on the bus schedule and stops in Des Plaines, please visit pacebus.com. Please note that Pace route 230 may have a detour alert in effect due to the festival.
Road Closures
Some downtown road closures will be in effect from Thursday, June 18 at 6 a.m. to Sunday, June 21. Ellinwood St. will be closed between River Rd. and Lee St. Pearson St. will be closed from Miner St. to Prairie Ave. Temporary parking restrictions in the surrounding area will be in place. Please plan your trips accordingly.
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