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Read the press release here.

Taste Of Chicago 2016: The Food, The Hours, The Bands, Mapped

GRANT PARK — Here's everything you need to know before going to the Taste of Chicago.

This year's festival starts at 11 a.m. Wednesday in Grant Park. Nearly 70 restaurants will sell their wares, with newcomers including Pork & Mindy's, Taco In A Bag, and BRGRBELLY making their Taste debut.

RELATED: Taste of Chicago 2016: Here's The Food

The Taste runs through Sunday. Here's how to navigate:

What are the hours?

The Taste will run from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Wednesday, Thursday and Friday, and 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday. Admission is free. 

Where is the Taste?

Roughly Monroe Street and Columbus Drive in Grant Park. The restaurants are lined up on Columbus, while bands will play the Petrillo Music Shell at Butler Field, 235 S. Columbus Drive. More bands will play the Bud Light Stage on Balbo Avenue, and pop-up bars and the "celebrity chef du jour" will circle Buckingham Fountain.

Here's a map: 


[City of Chicago]

Celebrity chefs? Like who?

Taste visitors can buy $45 tickets for a three-course dinner prepped by a well-known Chicago chef each day of the festival. The chefs include:

• Wednesday: Graham Elliot of Graham Elliot Bistro; Addison from Masterchef Junior Season 4 SOLD OUT
• Thursday: Kevin Hickey of The Duck Inn SOLD OUT
• Friday: Patrick Sheerin of Trenchermen
• Saturday: Chris Macchia of Nonnina
• Sunday: Abraham Conlon of Fat Rice

Aren't there food trucks?

You bet there are food trucks. Restaurants including Giordano's and The Fat Shallot will park in two spots throughout the festival: Jackson and Lake Shore Drive, and Columbus near Balbo. 

What's a "pop-up restaurant?"

Some restaurants will only appear for a day or two at Taste. They include:

• Arami, Wednesday
• BRGRBELLY, Wednesday and Thursday
• Demera Ethiopian Restaurant, Sunday
• Doom Street Eats, Thursday
• Garifuna Flava: A Taste of Belize, Sunday
• Gus's World Famous Fried Chicken, Friday and Saturday
• Jin Ju Restaurant, Wednesday
• MAD Social, Friday
• nana, Sunday
• Pastoral Artisan Cheese, Bread & Wine: Wednesday and Thursday
• Pork & Mindy's, Friday and Saturday
• Puffs of Doom, Friday
• Riva, Saturday
• Rojo Gusano, Wednesday and Thursday
• Stan's Donuts & Coffee: Thursday and Friday
• Taco in a Bag: Saturday and Sunday
• Yum Dum, Saturday and Sunday

Anything else?

Eli's Cheesecake will pass out free slices of cheesecake for its 36th birthday while supplies last Saturday.

How do I buy food/beer?

You have to pay for food and beverage tickets at the ticket stands before visiting the restaurants. Tickets are sold in strips of 12 for $8.50. Cash and debit/credit cards are accepted. Ticket sales end at 8:30 p.m. daily. 

Where can I park?

The Millennium Park or Millennium Lakeside garages at 5 S. Columbus Drive, or the Grant Park North Garage, 25 N. Michigan Ave., and the Grant Park South Garage, 325 S. Michigan Ave. 

Parking at the Millennium Park garages costs $35 per day.

Parking from two to eight hours at Grant Park North runs $35, and parking costs $32 for two to eight hours at Grant Park South. There's also a $16 "early bird" special for those who park between 5 a.m. and 9 a.m. on weekdays, leave their car for at least six hours, but are out by 7 p.m.

Bikes can be parked along the edges of Grant or Millennium parks. 

Who's playing the Taste?

Various acts will play the Bud Light Stage throughout the festival. Headliners including The Roots and The Decemberists will play the Petrillo Music Shell daily. Listening is free, but tickets for seats in the shell are still for sale.

RELATED: Billy Idol, The Roots Get Huge Payday For Playing Taste Of Chicago

Here's the headliner schedule:

• 5:30 p.m., Wednesday: The Roots with opener Donnie Trumpet. SOLD OUT.
• 5 p.m., Thursday: KONGOS with openers Elle King and Transviolet Tickets are $15.
• 5:30 p.m., Friday: The Decemberists with opener Elle King. Tickets are $23.
• 4:30 p.m., Saturday: Billy Idol with opener Sons of the Silent Age. Tickets are $23. 
• 4:30 p.m., Sunday: The Isley Brothers with opener Sheila E. Tickets are $23.

What stuff isn't allowed?

This stuff isn't allowed:

• Alcoholic beverages
• Grills
• Fireworks or explosives
• Illegal substances and weapons
• Tents/canopies
• Beach/picnic umbrellas
• Flag poles
• Pets — except for service animals

All containers are subject to search. Blankets and folding chairs are allowed, but folding chairs are not allowed in the Petrillo Music Shell's seating area. 

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