Village of Orland Park Hosts 10th Annual Taste of Orland Park

The Village of Orland Park’s Taste of Orland Park is a popular August destination drawing more than 40,000 attendees.  This year marks the tenth anniversary of the Taste that includes live entertainment on two stages, events for kids and nearly 20 of Orland Park’s favorite eateries selling a variety of food and drinks.

Held outdoors at the Orland Park Village Center, 14700 South Ravinia Avenue, the festival will be held Friday, August 2 from 5 p.m. to 11 p.m.; Saturday, August 3 from 1 p.m. to 11 p.m. and Sunday, August 4 from 1 p.m. to 9 p.m. Admission and parking are free.

“The Village of Orland Park has a great weekend planned for everyone,” said Orland Park Mayor Dan McLaughlin. “We have 16 great restaurants, exceptional entertainment, community wide participation and something for every age group,” the mayor said.

The Taste features a range of culinary selections including Beggars Pizza, Blissful Banana Café, Café Gaston, Cooper’s Hawk Winery & Restaurant, Culver’s, El Pueblito, Hienie’s McCarthy’s, Mo’s Chinese Kitchen and Oberweis Dairy. Participating Orland Park eateries also include Orland Park Bakery, Palermo’s, Papa Joe’s, Riviera Country Club, RoccoVino’s, Rock Bottom Brewery & Restaurant and Wooden Paddle Pizza.

Along with indulging in a variety of cuisine, the three day fest includes live entertainment on two stages, community groups offering children’s activities, Kids’ Day on Saturday, a classic car show on Sunday, Bingo inside of the Orland Park Civic Center and much more.

The festival begins 5 p.m. on August 2 with the classic rock band ARRA on the main stage followed by the Sandburg Marching Band performing at 7:30 p.m. and country/western, Mason Rivers, at 8:30p.m. Not to be missed the Orland Park Comedy Improv Team will be performing on the Community Stage at 6 p.m. followed by Live Band Karaoke at 8 p.m., the village invites all brave attendees to sing with a live band.

On Saturday, the main stage entertainment includes Johnny Russler & the Beach Bum Band performing at 1:30 p.m., Second Time Around performing at 4:30 p.m. and Slippery When Wet, featuring Bon Jovi songs and more, from 8:30 p.m. to 11 p.m. Popular community stage entertainment includes Music Connection at 3 p.m., School of Rock Show Band at 5 p.m., and Teen Battle of the Bands at 7 p.m. On Saturday, the Orland Park Lions Club will host Bingo inside the air conditioned Civic Center from 1 p.m. to 9 p.m.

“It’s a great way to run into old neighborhood friends and those from your kids’ activities. I like to see everyone coming together as a community and enjoying a nice weekend,” said Trustee Patricia Gira, chair of the village’s Recreation and Parks Committee. “It’s a family-oriented event and we try to offer something for all ages,” she said.

Saturday is Kids Day at the adjacent John Humphrey Sports Complex, from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. Activities include face painting, spin art craft, Sarah’s Pony Rides and Petting Zoo, Game Truck, Giant Chair Photos, Grand Slam Batting, “Touch-A- Truck,” and Micro-Reality Stock Car Racing. There will also be a slide, jumpy, and obstacle course provided by Moon Jump Inc. Other participants include the Bulls/Sox Academy, Team USA and Victory Martial Arts, Orland Park Pioneer Football and Cheerleading, ISU Quidditch, Joon Lee’s Taekwondo, Orland Park Police Department, Orland Fire Protection, Orland Park Soccer Club Soccer Combine, and Village of Orland Park Fencing Program.

The annual Family Water Balloon Toss will be held at 2:30 p.m. and pairs may include an adult and child duo or two siblings. Registration is not required. The Family Egg Drop Competition will follow at 3:30 p.m. Each of the teams must use a created device that is no wider than two feet in diameter to catch the eggs. Catching with hands or pillows is not permitted.

On Sunday, August 4 the third and final day of the festival, the Taste will host its 10th annual Car Show opening at 11 a.m. More than 50 customs, vintage, classics and hot rods will be on display. Awards will be presented at 4:00 p.m. for best “category,” along with more than 75 awards to be given over eight classes and 100 dash plaques to be earned. 

The Orland Park Kiwanis Club will host Bingo inside of the Orland Park Civic Center on Sunday from 1 p.m. until 8 p.m.  The final round of “Orland Park’s Got Talent” will be held on the community stage at 2 p.m., with Chicago Tribute Anthology (CTA) performing on the main stage at 4 p.m. Other crowd favorites performing on the main stage include the Orland Park Doonaree Pipe Band at 3 p.m. and Carl Sandburg Cheerleaders at 6 p.m. The Beatles tribute band, American English, will close the fest Sunday night, performing on the main stage at 7 p.m.

A number of local community groups will be present at the Taste including the Village of Orland Park Sportsplex, Orland Fire Protection District, Orland Palos Reber-Tesmond V.F.W. Post 2604, Orland Park Area Chamber of Commerce, the Orland Park Public Library, and Orland Township. Other participating groups include Aliabad Grotto Southwest Side Shiners Club, American Cancer Society, P.A.W.S Animal Shelter, YMCA Adventure Guides/ Princesses, Firehouse Subs Public Safety Foundation, Calvary Church of Orland Park, Faith Methodist Church, Honor Flight Chicago and Special Olympics Illinois.

“The Taste of Orland Park is a great showcase of the Orland Park community --- the restaurants, the community and sponsor booths, the great entertainment --- everyone working together to show what a great place Orland Park is,” said Orland Park Mayor Dan McLaughlin.

The Taste of Orland Park is sponsored by the Orland Park Prairie Newspaper, Insurance through AAA, Country Financial, Christopher B. Burke Engineering Ltd., the Aileen S. Andrew Foundation, Whole Foods, ING, Branningan Chiropractic Center, ComEd, Moraine Valley Community College, and Rasmussen College. In-kind Sponsors include 98.3WCCQ, Rhapsody Productions, Product Recording Company, Performance Sound and Soulistic 360.

A full schedule of events, complete with restaurant menus, appears on the Village of Orland Park’s website at http://www.orland-park.il.us/index.aspx?NID=919. For more information, call the Village of Orland Park Recreation Department at 708/403-7275.