Taste of Lincoln Reaches Milestone This Weekend

Those attending the ever-popular Taste of Lincoln Avenue street festival this weekend have one more reason to celebrate.

One of the longest-running summer street parties in the city, the local Taste is ringing in its 30th year on Saturday and Sunday—July 27 and July 28.

Sprawling over several city blocks and side streets on the eponymous strip of Lincoln Avenue between Fullerton and Wrightwood avenues in Lincoln Park, this year's festivities include more than 35 musical performances on four stages, about 100 vendor booths, a stand-alone Kids Carnival area and of course, all the local brews and bites behind its namesake.

The Lill Street Craft Fair will be held simultaneously to the Taste on Lill Street between Halsted Street and Lincoln Avenue, where more than two dozen artists will showcase their work.

New this year, Headquarters Beercade—a newly expanded bar located just a couple blocks from Lincoln Park's northern border of Diversey Parkway—will sponsor an area of free arcade games where craft beers will also be sold. 

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One musical stage will be dedicated electronic dance music deejays, according to the event's page.

Among this year's performers are: Canadian rockers, Loverboy; Dave Davies from British '60s band, The Kinks; lauded Ohio rock and roll band, Red Wanting Blue; and Chicago indie rockers, Fillagar, and Company of Thieves.

The festival's Kids' Carnival will again be open from Noon to 6 p.m. each day on Altgeld between Lincoln Avenue and Halsted Street via a separate entrance on Halsted.

The youngsters' "jamboree" features stage entertainment, inflatables, art activities galore, a petting zoo, pony rides and more. Admission to the area is free but kids will need to purchase tokens to play games.

Festival hours are from noon to 10 p.m. on both days. A suggested gate donation of $10 benefits the Wrightwood Neighbors Association. The WNA makes grants to charitable and educational organizations serving the local community. 

READ: Wrightwood Neighbors Reflect on 5 Decades of Progress

Mark your calendar and peruse the following Lineup:

SATURDAY

Fullerton Stage

• 12:15 p.m.—Lucky 3
• 2 p.m.—Dan Hubbard & The Humadors
• 4:30 p.m.—The 4 On the Floor
• 6:30 p.m.—Fillagar
• 8:30 p.m.—Dave Davies of  The Kinks

Montana Stage

• 12:30 p.m.—Matthew Morgan & the Lost Brigade
• 2:15 p.m.—The Future Laureates
• 4:15 p.m.—That Damn Choir
• 6:15 p.m.—Brother Joscephus and the Love Revolution
• 8:30 p.m.—Company of Thieves 

Altgeld Stage

• 1 p.m.—Toronzo Cannon & the Cannonball Express
• 3:15 p.m.—The Mike Wheeler Band
• 5:45 p.m.—Stache
• 8:15 p.m.—Wedding Banned

SUNDAY

Fullerton Stage

• 12:30 p.m.—Mutts
• 2 p.m.—Paper Thick Walls
• 3:45 p.m.—Molehill
• 5:15 p.m.—Big Paraid
• 6:45 p.m.—Gemini Club
• 8:30 p.m.—Loverboy

Montana Stage

• Noon—Delta Routine
• 1:45 p.m.—Hero Jr.
• 3:30 p.m.—Cloud 9
• 5:15 p.m.—Sidewalk Chalk 
• 6:15 p.m.—Fletcher
• 8:30 p.m.—Red Wanting Blue

Altgeld Stage

• 12: 30 p.m.—Hot Sauce Committee
• 2:30 p.m.—Dot Dot Dot
• 4:45 p.m.—Rod Tuffcurls & The Benchpress
• 8 p.m.—Sixteen Candles

Wrightwood Stage (Dance music stage)

• Schedule to be determined.
• Slated deejays/acts include: Sound Remedy, Tommie Sunshine and Shiny Toy Guns.

Editor's Note: The above information was provided by Special Events Management, which helps coordinate the festivities.