Taste of River North

Details

Friday, July 18, 2025 | 5pm to 10pm
Saturday, July 19, 2025 | 11am to 10pm
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Overview

Taste of River North 2025 – A Culinary and Cultural Celebration

Get ready for one of Chicago’s most anticipated summer festivals—Taste of River North, returning on Friday and Saturday, July 18-19, 2025! Nestled in the heart of River North, this dynamic event showcases the neighborhood’s vibrant culinary scene, live entertainment, and artistic talent, offering an unforgettable experience for food lovers and culture enthusiasts alike.

Savor the Flavors of River North

Indulge in signature dishes from some of the city’s top restaurants, all conveniently gathered in one location. From gourmet bites to comfort food classics, the festival offers a diverse range of flavors, reflecting the rich culinary diversity of River North’s renowned dining scene.

Live Music & Entertainment

Beyond the food, Taste of River North brings an electrifying lineup of live music that keeps the energy high all weekend long. Groove to local bands, experience high-energy performances, and soak in the lively festival atmosphere.

Art, Culture & Family Fun

In addition to food and music, explore art vendors, interactive experiences, and a dedicated family-friendly area perfect for attendees of all ages. Whether you’re browsing local art, discovering unique crafts, or enjoying kid-friendly activities, the festival has something for everyone.

Join the Celebration!

Don’t miss out on this exciting two-day celebration of food, music, and community in one of Chicago’s most iconic neighborhoods. Mark your calendar for July 18-19, 2025, and stay tuned for updates on participating restaurants, entertainment schedules, and ticket information.

For see below for updated information on schedule, music lineups, and vendors for the Taste of River North.


Friday
6:00PM – Stache
8:30PM – Maggie Speaks

Saturday
12:00PM – Dog Parade presented by dog. hotel | daycare
12:30PM – School of Rock
2:00PM – Y2K
4:00PM – The Divas
5:45PM – Hello Weekend
8:00PM – Rod Tuffcurls & The Bench Press

2025 schedule coming soon!

You know it’s going to be good when local fav Spybar is involved!

2025 restaurants coming soon!  Here’s who joined us last year …

Lure Fishbar: Lure Fishbar is a seafood restaurant offering not only the freshest fish selections from around the world but also a complete raw bar with rotating oyster selection, and a world class sushi program.

Moe’s Cantina: Your ultimate destination for an authentic taste of Mexican food and drink in Chicago. With two locations: River North and Wrigleyville, their restaurants offer the perfect blend of classic Windy City charm and modern dining and nightlife. Their River North location is perfect for happy hour, dinner and a night out, or hosting unforgettable events. Their Wrigleyville location boasts a stunning rooftop bar and is a must-visit for Cubs baseball fans and tourists.

Tree House Chicago: Tree House Chicago serves uniquely crafted pizzas and Italian-inspired bar classics. Whether you’re a classic Neapolitan fan or cheesy Detroit-style Pizza lover, Tree House has something for everyone. Vibrant seasonal cocktails, bottomless mimosas and a stellar beer lineup make for a damn good time. 

Chick-fil-A: As a family-owned business, the Cathy family has been working together for 70 years. Just as Truett Cathy built Chick-fil-A alongside his wife and children, today several second and third generation Cathy family members are carrying on that tradition, while others pursue talents in other fields. Working in a variety of different capacities, from staff headquartered at the Chick-fil-A Support Center to serving local communities as restaurant Operators, they’re coast-to-coast helping people “Eat Mor Chikin®.

Hubbard Inn: A fixture on Hubbard Street for almost a decade, Hubbard Inn is now reopened after months of renovations. Guests will enjoy an evolving cocktail experience along with artistic presentations of contemporary fare as they move throughout the multi-leveled venue.

Ground Up Coffee: They’re a cup above their competition when it comes to your morning (or anytime!) pick-me-up.  They source amazing beans and roast here in Chicago for an optimal taste and experience.  Plus, pair it with their delicious homemade bites and you have a winning combo!

Avli: Creative Greek food where tradition meets contemporary elegance.  That’s their motto and, well, their food certainly makes this a reality!  We welcome them back and look forward to tasting their salads, kabobs and so much more!

Joy District:  It’s likely you’ve heard about Joy District because of their high-energy atmosphere but did you know they have food too?  From their wings with signature sauces to their crispy pizzas, you’ll be pleasantly surprised what they have in store.

Tzuco:  Carlos Gaytán was born in Huitzuco, a small town in Guerrero, Mexico in 1970. At the age of 20, he headed to Chicago, Illinois looking for a life change, unaware that his gastronomy and his mother’s special gusto would play a crucial role in his future.  Tzucho is a perfect space for Chef Gaytán to bring his recipes to Chicago at Tzucho.  We cannot WAIT to sample their amazing spread and bites.

UMMO:  New not only to this fest but River North itself!  UMMO is a contemporary Italian restaurant that showcases the dynamic flavors of regional Italian cuisine within a vividly designed and imaginative setting.  They use simple ingredients to create masterpieces so be sure to stop by their booth to sample some of the best food around!

La Grande Boucherie:  Inspired by the carefree spirit and the philosophy of La Belle Époque era, BOUCHERIE was created to be the perfect blend of an indulgent steakhouse and a refined Parisian brasserie. Envisioned by founder Emil Stefkov, the design expresses a reverence for elegant craftsmanship and tradition. The intricate details built in collaboration with numerous French artisans and existing features of American architecture bring elements of the past into a distinctively modern space. BOUCHERIE aims to provide an unforgettable brasserie dining experience, inspired by the most natural methods possible of sourcing and preparing food.

OLIO E PIÙ: A tasting River North establishment that brings Italian tradition and true sense of Mediterranean liveliness to vibrant neighborhoods in NYC, Chicago, and Washington D.C. As an authentic trattoria, its cuisine is based on classic Italian dishes, with a focus on house-made pastas, hand-stretched pizza, and time-honored favorites such as Caprese salad, fritto misto, and tiramisu. The lineup changes according to the season.  Welcome them to Taste of River North!

From wine to spirits, join us daily to elevate your Taste of River North experience!  These mini tastings are a perfect way to start or end your day.  Choose a session, grab a ticket and join us to sample some unique wines and spirits.

COMING SOON!

 

Tasting details:

  • Friday (WINE), 6pm to 9pm
  • Saturday (SPIRITS); 1pm to 3pm; 4pm to 6pm

Tickets are limited to 400 participants. You do not have to show up at exactly 6pm — feel free to come at your leisure. The tasting should take about an hour.

WHAT WE TASTED:

CLICK HERE TO REGISTER YOUR PUP

Does your furry friend have what it takes?  Have them strut their stuff at the 3rd annual Taste of River North Dog Parade!  Choose from the following categories when you register:

  • Best in Show (no registration required, all dogs will participate)
  • Best Rescue
  • Best Large Breed
  • Best Small Breed
  • Best Costume

Saturday morning schedule:

11 am Check In
11:20 Introduction – Reg Closes
11:35 Small Breed
11:45 Large Breed
11:55 Costume
12:05 Rescue
12:15 Results

The mission of the River North Residents Association is to:

  • Protect and enhance the quality of life in River North
  • Encourage strong collaboration and communication between residents, businesses and government officials
  • Promote responsible real estate development and land use
  • Advocate for infrastructure improvements that contribute to long term value
  • Contribute to a safer neighborhood and a healthy, sustainable environment
  • Support positive community development and the creation of opportunities for disadvantaged Chicagoans

The River North Residents Association is a tax-exempt, non-profit, volunteer-led neighborhood advocacy organization under section 501(c)(3) of the IRS code.

Looking to connect with active consumers at this event? For pricing and a customized benefits package, please contact Karyn Terrones at [email protected] or 773-584-6625.

Vending Applications

Application Deadline: Sunday, May 11th, 2025

Please note that all applications are subject to acceptance and availability.

We do not provide guaranteed exclusivity to any participant/exhibitor or category. We work on a first come first serve basis when approving vendors. We would highly recommend everyone apply as early as possible. Do not wait until the last minute as sometimes the event will be completely booked and applications will close earlier than the deadline.

EVENT SPONSORS

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