Taste of Orland Park Returns to Village Center with Food, Fun and Festivities

Northwestern Medicine sponsors Aug 1-3 event packed with music, food and entertainment

The Taste of Orland Park, presented by Northwestern Medicine, will return to the Village Center from Aug. 1-3.

“We are thrilled to bring the Taste of Orland Park back to Village Center this year,” Mayor Jim Dodge said.

“This event has long been a staple in bringing our community together and staff has worked diligently to make this year’s Taste the best event yet.”

Now in its 22nd year, the festival features Orland Park restaurants, community organizations and musical acts throughout the weekend. Events include live entertainment on two stages, and three days of kids’ activities. The community favorite Battle of the Bands contest will take place on Friday, live band karaoke and a Family Feud game show on Saturday and Orland Park’s Got Talent will return to the community stage on Sunday.

The Taste will be held at Village Center, 14700 S. Ravinia Ave., from 5 to 11 p.m. Friday, Aug. 1; 3 to 11 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 2; and 3 to 9 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 3. Admission, parking and all activities are free. Food and beverages will be available for purchase, and an ATM will be on site. Participating restaurants will serve signature dishes, drinks and desserts at booths throughout the center.

Participating restaurants include Barraco’s, Buona Beef, Cooper’s Hawk Winery & Restaurant, Crave Cookies, Irish Patriot, Jamba Juice, Joey’s Red Hots, Mo’s Chinese Kitchen, Nothing Bundt Cakes, Orland Ale House, Papa Joe’s Italian Restaurant, Pueblito, Taqueria Los Comales, The Original Rainbow Cone and Tradycja Polish Fusion Cuisine.

“It’s great to see the wide variety of local offerings, from franchises to independently owned restaurants,” Dodge said. “Along with the food, the Village has put together an excellent lineup of events and entertainment for the community to enjoy.”

The Orland Park Civic Center, 14750 S. Ravinia Ave., will be open during Taste of Orland Park Aug. 1-3 for attendees to cool off and relax. The Orland Park Kiwanis & Lions Club will host bingo Saturday, Aug. 2, and Sunday, Aug. 3, from 3 to 8 p.m.

Friday’s main stage performers are country act Alika Arlynn, 5:30 to 6:30 p.m.; ABBA tribute band Dancing Queen, 7:30 to 9 p.m.; and headliner, 1980s tribute band Sixteen Candles, 9 to 11 p.m. The evening concludes with a drone show from 11 to 11:15 p.m.

Saturday, yacht rock band Anchors Away performs from 3 to 4 p.m.; Altered Five Blues Band from 4:30 to 5:30 p.m.; the annual Veterans Tribute at 6 p.m.; pop-rock band 7th Heaven from 7 to 8:30 p.m.; and classic rock headliners Tommy DeCarlo (Boston) and Jason Scheff (Chicago) from 9 to 11 p.m.

Sunday, entertainment continues with Taylor Swift tribute Sparks Fly from 3 to 4:15 p.m.; Doonaree Pipe Band from 4:20 to 4:40 p.m.; Konquer Dance Company from 4:45 to 5 p.m.; 1940s and 1960s band Shake Baby Shake from 5 to 6:30 p.m.; and headliner One Vision of Queen featuring Marc Martel from 7:30 to 9 p.m. The festival will close with a fireworks show from 9 to 9:15 p.m.

Free parking will be available at the Orland Township lot, 14807 S. Ravinia Ave.; Orland Park Public Library, 14921 S. Ravinia Ave.; Red Lobster west lot, 14750 S. La Grange Road; and the parking garage at 9650 W. 143rd St.

Ravinia Avenue will be closed between 147th and 149th streets during the event for safety.

Guests may bring one sealed water bottle per person. No other outside food or drink will be allowed. Bags will be inspected at entry. Lawn chairs and blankets are encouraged, but tables are not allowed.

Taste of Orland Park is presented by Northwestern Medicine and sponsored by Astound, Christopher B. Burke Engineering Ltd., Comcast, ComEd, Dave & Buster’s, Girl Scouts of Greater Chicago & Northwest Indiana, M.E. Simpson Co. Inc., Peoples Bank, Polish & Slavic Federal Credit Union, Power Home Remodeling, Renewal by Andersen, Silver Lake Country Club, Spaceco, V3 Companies and Waste Management.

For more details, a schedule and updates, visit www.orlandpark.org/taste. For questions, call the Orland Park Recreation and Parks Department at 708-403-5000.

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Ray Hanania is an award-winning opinion columnist, author & former Chicago City Hall reporter (1977-1992). A veteran who served during the Vietnam War and the recipient of four SPJ Peter Lisagor Awards for column writing, Hanania writes weekly opinion columns on mainstream American & Chicagoland topics for the Southwest News-Herald, Des Plaines Valley News, the Regional News, The Reporter Newspapers, and Suburban Chicagoland.

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