After a three-year absence, Oak Brook’s biggest annual event is scheduled to return July 3.
First canceled in 2019 because of heavy rains that flooded the grounds, the Taste of Oak Brook didn’t take place in 2020 or 2021 because of the coronavirus pandemic.
The event typically attracts some 20,000 people throughout the day. It features several food vendors, kids activities, entertainment and a fireworks show at dusk.
Village President Gopal Lalmalani said he “feels great” about planning for the return of Taste of Oak Brook.
“This is Oak Brook’s iconic event,” he said. “Our residents are looking forward to it. It’s about the food, family, friends, fun and fireworks. All we need now is to pray to the weather gods.”
McDonald’s donated $100,000 a year for Taste of Oak Brook operations for several years, before moving its corporate offices in 2018 to Chicago from Oak Brook. Lalmalani said village officials hope to make up for that revenue by seeking out several corporate donors.
Taste of Oak Brook is scheduled to begin about 3 p.m. on the Oak Brook Polo grounds, 700 Oak Brook Road.
The beverage tent will feature beer, wine, Sangria, water and soft drinks. No outside alcoholic beverages will be allowed into Taste of Oak Brook.
The purchase of tickets for food, beverages and some children’s activities are available only on the event date. Food and beverage items range from 2 tickets to 7 tickets and cost $1 per ticket. There will be several ticket booths to purchase tickets.
Michael Manzo, a Village Board member who co-chairs the Taste of Oak Brook Committee with fellow board member Suresh Reddy, shared Lalmalani’s excitement about the anticipated return of the event.
“It’s a return to normalcy, hopefully,” Manzo said. “It really is a great event that our residents enjoy, along with many other residents of other towns in the area. I think the fact that we have so much open space for Taste of Oak Brook makes it a different atmosphere, compared to similar events in other towns. It’s almost like a big picnic.”
Manzo said the Taste of Oak Brook Committee will in August begin planning the 2023 event, which could be expanded to more than one day.
“This year isn’t the time to expand to more than our one day,” Manzo said. “But there are some good reasons to consider turning this into a two- or three-day event.”
Many of the costs for the village and for attending food vendors won’t increase significantly with additional days, Manzo said.
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“With one day, if you get a bad day of weather, you’re basically out of luck,” he said.
The fireworks show is the only part of the 2022 Taste of Oak Brook that will take place — July 4 — if weather forces cancellation of the event July 3.
On-site parking will be available for a fee of $20 per vehicle. A new option this year is prepaid premium parking, which will be sold online in advance of the event.
Handicap parking will be available at the Oak Brook Golf Clubhouse, with courtesy carts available to shuttle attendees to the field on which Taste of Oak Brook is taking place.
No open-grilling, sparklers or pets are permitted.
Chuck Fieldman is a freelancer reporter for Pioneer Press.