Although you'll need a hefty sum to enjoy the festival's main event (the tasting), the Taste of Chicago's free admission provides access to many other goodies: concerts by Chaka Khan, Angie Stone, Stevie Wonder, Elejandro Escovedo, Bonnie Raitt, and others; a fireworks show; cooking demos (followed by a few bonus book signings); face painting, caricatures, and cake decorating at the Family Village; plus a lot more. And, with over one million visitors annually, a weekend visit can promise a fair dose of midwestern perspiration.

In Grant Park; hours are 11 AM-9 PM except 7/3-7/4, till 9:30 PM, and 7/6, till 8 PM.