Taste of Roselle offers food, music

It isn't just the crowds that look forward to the food, rides and fun that happen at the annual Taste of Roselle.

Even the bands beg to play at the popular fest, despite the fact that the three-day fest is a fundraiser and they'd be performing for free.

"All of our entertainment is 100 percent people who want to do it, and sometimes we have to turn bands away," said Jim Hodgdon, chairman of the Taste of Roselle Commission. "A lot of these (bands) have been coming back for 27 years."

It's loyalty like that that keeps the festival going strong after more than two decades ­- and it doesn't hurt that there's some great eating, too.

This year's fest includes 18 food vendors that will dish out some of the best Roselle has to offer. Of course many old favorites like Chase Root Beer and Silver Lake Restaurant will set up shop, but visitors can also learn a thing or two during their taste tests. The Roselle Sister Cities Commission will serve Polish cookies to help residents sample the culture of their sister city, Bochnia, Poland.

Other food vendors are: the American Legion; Bojo's; Chicago Classics; Dippin' Dots; Genoa Pizza; Greek Corner; The Strawberry Patch; Italian Pizza Kitchen; Mylos Greek Food; Pina's; S & L Catering; Suzie's Funnel Cakes; That's A Nice Italian Ice; The Melting Pot Fondue; Bella Vise Bourbon St. Fryer. There will also be a beer tent run by the Roselle Chamber of Commerce and the Roselle Lions, which will serve organic iced tea in addition to alcohol.

To give festgoers a chance to take in all the carnival rides, games, music and the craft show, this year's Taste of Roselle offers expanded hours and a larger site.

Hodgdon said these changes won't alter the fest's local vibe, though.

"The Taste of Roselle is kind of unique because it's not in a large park or a field, but it's among the buildings and businesses of Roselle, which gives it a different feel."

Although admission and parking are free, some proceeds from alcohol, food and entertainment sales raise funds for community projects. Since 1982, the taste has generated more than $300,000 for local improvements like the Roselle Historical Museum handicap ramp and computers for the Roselle Public Library.

Hodgdon said credit for this good work is due primarily to Roselle residents, rather than out-of-town guests.

"Rather than a lot of fests that attract a lot of out-of-towners, the taste is attended by a lot of Roselle families.