Community Corner

Taste of Orland Park Returns with Something for Everyone August 1–3

Check out which restaurants and musical acts will be offered at this year's Taste of Orland.

The Village of Orland Park's annual food fest, the Taste of Orland Park, will return August 1-3 at the Orland Park Village Center, 14700 S. Ravinia Ave. In its eleventh year, the Taste showcases Orland Park eateries, community organizations, event sponsors, Kids' Day, a car show and offers live entertainment on two stages.

The Taste of Orland Park will be open Friday, August 1 from 5 p.m. to 11 p.m.; Saturday, August 2 from 1 p.m. to 11 p.m. and Sunday, August 3 from 1 p.m. to 9 p.m. Admission and parking are free with participating restaurants selling portioned size tastes at individual food booths.

"The village first sponsored the Taste of Orland Park as a way to let everyone know about the many great restaurants we have in Orland Park," said Mayor Dan McLaughlin. "It has grown to become an annual favorite that everyone looks forward to every summer," he said.

Participating Orland Park eateries include 94 West, Beggar's Pizza, Blissful Banana Café, Café Gaston, Cooper's Hawk, El Famous Burrito, El Pueblito, Granite City Food and Brewery, Hienie's McCarthy's Chicken, Mo's Chinese Kitchen, Oberweis Dairy, Orland Park Bakery, Palermo's, Papa Joe's, Q Restaurant, Riviera Country Club, RoccoVino's, Rock Bottom Restaurant and Brewery and Wooden Paddle Pizza. Select restaurants are alcohol vendors with soft drinks and water being available for purchase from all of the restaurants.

"The variety of different foods is one of the many great things about the Taste of Orland Park," said Trustee Patricia Gira, chair of the village's Recreation and Parks Committee. "I like its reunion atmosphere as many people have reported running into old friends from school, their kids' activities, scouts, sports and more. It's a great place to catch up with old friends," she said.

A number of musical genres will perform on the main stage. Highlights on the community stage, at the village's outdoor amphitheater, include the village's Comedy Improv Team performing Friday, August 1 at 6 p.m., followed by Live Band Karaoke at 8 p.m. The final competition for Orland Park's Got Talent will be held on Sunday, August 3 at 2 p.m. on the community stage. The winner will take have a $1000 prize.

Main stage musical performers include the Neverly Brothers performing Friday night at 5 p.m., followed by Mason Rivers Country Band at 8:30 p.m.. Saturday's main stage entertainment includes Bill O'Connell's Chicago Skyliners Big Band at 1:30 p.m., BBI performing top 40 hits at 4:30 p.m. and Shining Star's Earth, Wind and Fire Tribute Saturday night at 8:30 p.m. Jose Valdes and the Mambo All-Stars open the main stage on Sunday at 1 p.m., The Voices perform Motown and R & B at 4:30 p.m., with American English closing the fest Sunday night with its 7 p.m. performance.

Kids' Day, at the adjacent John Humphrey Sports Complex, is Saturday, August 2 from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. with a number of free games, activities and programs for kids of all ages. The Orland Park Kiwanis Club will host Bingo inside of the Civic Center on Saturday with the Orland Park Lions Club doing the same on Sunday.

The annual Taste of Orland Park Car Show will be held at the Humphrey Complex on Sunday beginning at 11 a.m.

"The Taste of Orland Park is much more than a food fest, although the food is an important part," McLaughlin said. "Kids have a great time with all of the happenings at the Humphrey Complex next door on Saturday. Sunday's car show is always a big hit and we're happy to have some of the best community groups in the region show what they do with all of the community group booths," he said.

"It's also a lot of fun because many of the weekend's Community Stage performers are our own residents, our village dance companies, those from other studios, kids from Sandburg and music students from throughout the community. It is a great showcase of Orland Park," Gira said.

Complete Taste of Orland Park details are available on the village's website at http://orlandpark.org/index.aspx?NID=919. For more information, call the village's Recreation Department at 708/403-7275.


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