After a successful expansion last summer, the Taste of Elmwood Park will once again be four days long this year.
This year’s Taste of Elmwood Park will run from Aug. 6 through 9 and will be located in and around Central Park, at 75th and Fullerton avenues.
The Taste highlights 24 restaurants in and around Elmwood Park. In addition to the food, there will be live music, rides, games, and arts and crafts.
More Top Picks Sketching Objects From Your Imagination Is Easy With Mechanical Pencils
On the first day of the event, Thursday, the event will be open from from 5 p.m. to 11 p.m.; the hours will be the same on Friday. On Saturday, the event will run from 12 p.m. until 11 p.m.; on Sunday, from 12 p.m. to 10 p.m. Admission is free.
Elmwood Park Trustee Angelo Lollino, who also owns the restaurant Massa in Elmwood Park, is a member of the Taste of Elmwood Park’s organizing committee. He believes this year’s event will be better than ever.
“We are still fortunate that we a lot of local restaurants coming back this year,” he said.
He said in the past it wasn’t that easy, but he said he was committed to turning it around along with the help of the organizing committee.
“My goal was to get these restaurants back involved and we’ve been able to do that and we’re looking forward to that this year,” he said.
While making sure his business, which specializes in gelato, has enough for hungry visitors he’s looking forward to checking out a new addition to the event.
“Out biggest addition is our first annual Mayor’s Cup Bocce Ball Tournament,” he said. “Considering I’m in the food business, the biggest attraction is the food, but I’m looking forward to the bocce tournament.”
Since the bocce ball court has been installed at Centennial Park, 7600 W. Armitage Ave., it’s been a big hit among residents, with several leagues competing. Bocce Ball courts will be set up at the Taste of Elmwood Park for people to compete.
Elmwood Park Village President Angelo “Skip” Saviano said he makes it a point to stop at every vendor over the four-day event and is praying for good weather during the days of the event.
“I try to hit every vendor to show them the support we have for them sometime during the four days,” he said. “There’s a lot of food, but you have to take it easy.”
He said the event has grown into a good excuse for families and friends to come together.
“There’s a lot of people who grew up here and set up their summer vacation and visit family during Taste time,” he said.
It takes a lot of work to put together, but it’s worth it, Saviano said.
“Our model for the Taste has been good,” he said. “It’s been growing and people have been working very, very hard to get everything right.”
Twitter: @DavidDPollard