The Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events: 2015 Taste of Chicago generated $320,205 in profit

35th Edition of Chicago’s Iconic Festival Served Culinary Delights to 1.4 Million Visitors

CHICAGO, 2015-10-6 — /Travel PR News/ — The Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events (DCASE) announced today that the 2015 Taste of Chicago saw $320,205 in profit at the revitalized five-day festival. Taste of Chicago continues to thrive as the nation’s premier free outdoor food festival, showcasing the diversity of Chicago’s dining community, alongside music and other activities for the entire family, and the event contributes $106 million annually in total business activity to the Chicago economy.

“This year’s Taste of Chicago hosted residents and visitors from across the globe to sample the city’s diverse culinary offerings and enjoy crowd-pleasing musical events,” said Michelle T. Boone, Commissioner of the Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events. “We were excited to partner with 60 food vendors, including 19 new, representing many of Chicago’s neighborhoods.”

The Taste of Chicago has seen a surge in popularity since it was shortened to five days and new elements were added, including the Celebrity Chef du Jour dining pavilion, pop-up restaurants, food trucks, culinary podcasts and chart-topping musical acts. In 2013, the Taste of Chicago generated profits of $272,000, followed by a modest loss of $169,404 in 2014, resulting from the weather-related closure of Saturday – historically the festival’s highest-earning day.

Nineteen first-time vendors joined the food roster that included items such as lobster corn dogs from Graham Elliot, wild mushroom flatbread from Sono Wood Fired, watermelon gazpacho from Farmer’s Fridge, roasted red pepper & goat cheese tamales from Dia De Los Tamales and chocolate covered bacon sweet puffs from Puffs of Doom. An original Taste of Chicago vendor, Eli’s Cheesecake, celebrated its 35th birthday at the festival with a special event.

The 36th Annual Taste of Chicago will be held July 6-10, 2016, in Grant Park. For more information about the FREE admission festival, visit tasteofchicago.us, join the conversation on Facebook at Taste of Chicago and follow us on Twitter @TasteofChi and Instagram @ChicagoDCASE.

Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events
The Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events (DCASE) is dedicated to enriching Chicago’s artistic vitality and cultural vibrancy. This includes fostering the development of Chicago’s non-profit arts sector, independent working artists and for-profit arts business; providing a framework to guide the City’s future cultural and economic growth, via the 2012 Chicago Cultural Plan; marketing the City’s cultural assets to a worldwide audience; and presenting high-quality, free and affordable cultural programs for residents and visitors.

Christine Carrino    christine.carrino@cityofchicago.org, 312.744.0573
Jamey Lundblad    jamey.lundblad@cityofchicago.org, 312-744-2493

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