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Summertime Chi Food Fests to Drool Over

Posted on June 22, 2023   |   Updated on September 30, 2025
Sidney Madden

Sidney Madden

A couple eats funnel cake at the Taste of Chicago

A couple at the Taste of Chicago at Grant Park in 2022. (Joel Lerner / Xinhua / Getty)

Friends, Summertime Chi is full of good eats and treats — especially at food fests. Here are the ones we’re geeking over.

The first neighborhood pop-up is on Saturday at Humboldt Park. Pullman Park and Marquette Park will have one-day events ahead of the downtown fest in the fall. (The Taste got bumped since Grant Park was booked.)

The Washington Park fest will be combined with the African Caribbean International Festival of Life July 1–4.

Vote for the best burger from participating eateries July 7–9.

Smash tamales from across the world and homemade tortillas in Pilsen. Visit the beer garden full of Modelo products July 21–23.

Come for the country stars and stay for the cuisine: The BBQ is next level. See for yourself outside the United Center July 13–16.

In its third year, Chinatown restaurants will serve up traditional and modern food at the cultural fest July 29–30.

Foodies rejoice! The Japanese cultural fest in Old Town will be back with a teriyaki cookout, udon noodles, and corn on the cob Aug. 11–13.

How many meatballs can you eat? Cannolis? Enter contests Aug. 17–20.

Put away pierogies and paczkis in Jefferson Park Sept. 1–4.

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