CHICAGO, 2014-7-11 — /Travel PR News/ — The 34th Annual Taste of Chicago, July 9-13 in Grant Park, continues to be a free admission festival, made possible by the generous support of its sponsors, who also play a big part in making the event an enjoyable experience for people of all ages and interests.
New Taste of Chicago sponsor and vendor Mariano’s, the Midwest’s most exciting food market destination, will delight guests with four delectable offerings including Italian sausage and melrose peppers with Roundy’s chips (available in regular and tasting portions), roasted sweet corn, freshly cut watermelon slices and frozen chocolate-covered bananas. The In the Kitchen with Mariano’s pavilion will showcase some of Chicago’s most acclaimed chefs as they host fun, educational and engaging cooking demonstrations each day. For more information on Mariano’s visit their website at www.marianos.com.
To kick off the 34th Annual Taste of Chicago, a special opening ceremony will take place on Wednesday, July 9 at 10:45am at theIn the Kitchen with Mariano’s cooking demonstration pavilion.
This year throughout Taste, Humana will offer a record number of Humana Healthier Choices items, which highlights healthy menu items from participating restaurants. The healthier items are indicated by a green apple on the menu boards at participating restaurant booths and are also listed in the Humana Healthier Choices Passport Guide, available for free at the Humana tent and downloadable at tasteofchicago.us.
The Humana Healthier Choices Passport Guide also allows Taste-goers to collect stamps by participating in activities or eating Humana Healthier Choices options. Completed Passport Guides can be entered in a drawing for prizes, donated by the Taste of Chicago restaurants. Healthy activities include walking, biking, running and participating in Wii games with 93XRT’s top “jocks” from 12-1pm throughout the five-day festival at the Humana tent.
Taste-goers are also encouraged to download the free Charity Miles app from iTunes or Google Play Store, allowing them to give back to a charity of their choice as they stroll through the Taste of Chicago. Upon downloading the app, the charity of the user’s choice will be given $.25 for each mile biked, walked or ran.
The Illinois Lottery will be the presenting sponsor of the Petrillo Music Shell stage when Grammy nominated R&B, soul, hip-hop and funk artist Janelle Monáe performs on July 10 at 5:30pm. Keeping in line with great music and summertime entertainment, the Illinois Lottery will be out across the state this summer, sponsoring live concerts and events as part of its 2014 “Anything’s Possible” Music Series.
Enjoy a glass of wine at the E&J Gallo Wine Garden while enjoying live jazz music from some of Chicago’s finest groups including Frank Catalano, Trio One, Mark Moultrup and others each day from 2:30-7:30pm. In addition to the live jazz at the Taste, E&J Gallo will be hosting a special autograph signing with Chicago Bears legend Otis Wilson on Saturday, July 12 from 2-4pmin the wine garden. All ages welcome!
Fleet Feet Sports presents the Kid’s Dash on Saturday, July 12 at 10am in Butler Field. For the third year in a row, kids of all ages can get a taste of victory when they sign up for one of Fleet Feet Sports Kids’ Dashes. There are structured races by age and distance as well as an open 50-yard dash in which kids can race the clock (or their friends and family) in a head to head sprint – as many times as they would like! Registration includes a bib number, t-shirt and finisher’s medal.
The whole family will enjoy Radio Disney at the Taste of Chicago Kidz Zone. Special weekend programming includes Radio Disney’s TRYathalon obstacle course on Saturday, July 12 and an appearance by Spencer Boldman (“Adam”) from Disney XD’s “Lab Rats” on Sunday, July 13.
Chicken of the Sea will be at the Taste of Chicago July 12-13 to celebrate its 100th anniversary and honor those selfless community heroes that are making Chicago (and America) a better place. During the brand’s visit to Taste, the iconic Chicken of the Sea Mermaid will present a Gratitude Award to Chicago-based Feeding America. In all, the famous seafood provider is donating $1 million to more than 100 charitable individuals and nonprofits nationwide in 2014 as part of its “100 Years of Good,” one of the largest Pay it Forward initiatives in consumer packaged goods history. To find out where the Chicken of the Sea Great American Gratitude Tour is stopping next, go to www.chickenofthesea.com/100.
Kick off your Taste of Chicago week with AWOLNATION on Wednesday, July 9 at 5:30pm at the Petrillo Music Shell supported by101WKQX, Alternative’s new home in Chicago! Swing by their booth for a chance to win tickets to PIQNIQ with Linkin Park, Thirty Seconds to Mars and AFI or Riot Fest! You can also charge up your phones on their charging tower.
Longtime Taste sponsor Shoreline Sightseeing will once again take part in the Taste of Chicago festivities. Now celebrating its 75th anniversary, Shoreline will be on hand with its special Taste booth manned by Shoreline greeters in their bright orange shirts. Shoreline will offer its 30-minute classic Lake Tours from Buckingham Fountain at special Taste prices of $14 for adults, $13 for seniors and $6 for children 12 and under. Like Taste of Chicago, Shoreline is a fixture of summertime fun in Chicago!
Olive Oils from Spain will bring together two of the world’s best chefs, Diego Guerrero and Mark Murphy, to showcase what Spanish olive oils have to offer. The Good Life Embassy tent by Olive Oils from Spain will be open to the public with cooking demonstrations, a tasting area and a lounge area where attendees can learn more about how Spanish olive oil fits into a healthy lifestyle.
Martin’s Pastry Shoppe will offer Taste goers a sampling of “Martin’s Famous Potato Rolls,” the “#1 Branded Hamburger & Hotdog Roll in America”! Stop by their booth to try their soft, sweet Party Potato Rolls for FREE! You can also spin the prize wheel and win FREE stuff! Never heard of Martin’s Potato Rolls? Check them out at www.potatorolls.com.
The Net10 Wireless booth will be filled with fun games and prizes at Taste of Chicago. Festival-goers will be able to test their speed skills by taking the SIM Card Challenge, or try their luck at the Contract Drop game and get rewarded with free gifts! Stop by to join the fun and learn about how you can get Wireless Your Way with Net10 Wireless!
Nature’s Path is a family-run, passionately independent, sustainably-driven, deliciously-healthy organic food company that believes in “leaving the earth better than we found it.” Creating organic, healthy foods in a sustainable way is their passion—the cornerstone of this family company. Learn more about Nature’s Path yummy organic goodness and their assorted offerings, which include cereal, granola, oatmeal, waffles, snack bars, and more. Visit them at Taste of Chicago to sample the gluten free Crunchy Vanilla Sunrise cereal.
Taste goers can join the Shell @Fuel Rewards Network program and receive a 25¢/gal New Member Bonus! Members save with every fill up at @Shell. Stop by their tent during the Taste of Chicago to learn more. For more information on the savings visit www.fuelrewards.com.
The Chicago Tribune will be at the Taste of Chicago offering new subscribers the Sunday print home delivery subscription bundled with an all-access pass to their Digital Plus content on chicagotribune.com. Stop by their booth during the five-day festival to sign up for the Chicago Tribune.
How do you enjoy your Blue Bunny® Ice Cream? Stop by the Blue Bunny tent for a 3-D Blue Bunny® ice cream carton photo-op and help create 1000 smiles. Attendees can engage in the act of “digging” or “diving” into the decadent “Bunny Tracks” flavor with themed props. Friends and family can pose individually or together showcasing their creative dig or dive! Blue Bunny ice cream samples and coupons will also be distributed.
Taste of Chicago is presented by the Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events and sponsored in part by Aquafina, Blue Bunny® Ice Cream, Bud Light, Chicago Transit Authority, Chicago Tribune, Communications Direct, CLTV-Chicagoland’s Television, Eli’s Cheesecake Company, Fleet Feet Sports, Gallo Family Vineyards, Genworth North America Corporation, Humana, Hyundai, Illinois Lottery, LaGrou Distribution System, Mariano’s, Metra, Martin’s Famous Pastry Shoppe, Net 10 Wireless, Pure Leaf, Olive Oils from Spain, Pepsi, Radio Disney AM 1300, Shoreline Sightseeing, Southwest Airlines, V103, WGN-Television, WTTW 11’s Check, Please, 93XRT, 101 WKQX, and 103.5 KISS FM.
The 34th Annual Taste of Chicago is July 9-13 in Grant Park. For more information on the FREE admission festival, visittasteofchicago.us, Join the conversation on Facebook at Taste of Chicago and follow us on Twitter, @TasteofChi2014.
Mary May 312.744.0576 mmay@cityofchicago.org
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