Beatles tribute highlights Taste of Antioch

The return of the fan-favorite "American English" Beatles tribute band will highlight the musical entertainment for the 20th annual Taste of Antioch this weekend.

"They have opened for Paul McCartney in the past and are an Antioch favorite," said Barbara Porch of Antioch's Chamber of Commerce.

The festival will feature sidewalk sales, carnival rides and 11 local food vendors. Most of the action will take place around the town band shell, where bands will be jamming for most of the weekend and hungry visitors will be racing to stuff their stomachs during the watermelon- and hotdog-eating contests.

"It's the best combination of events," Porch said. "If visitors are on a tight budget they can come and enjoy the concerts and festival atmosphere."

The festival is the village's largest. Organizers expect between 25,000 and 30,000 visitors over the weekend.

Food booths at the taste open up at noon on Thursday, July 15, and the first night's entertainment includes a performance of Caribbean music by Od Tappo Imi from 7 to 10 p.m.

Seed spitters will battle it out on Friday, July 16, on the band shell stage during the first of two eating contests. The watermelon-eating contest will pit 15 competitors against each other in a race to finish half of a watermelon. The only rule in this Piggly Wiggly-sponsored contest is no spitting seeds on the floor. Immediately following the contest will be a performance by classic rock cover band Hi Infidelity.

Saturday will host the second contest of the weekend, the Brat Shop-sponsored hotdog-eating contest, beginning at 7 p.m. Contestants will put their stomachs to the test in a race to finish 10 hot dogs. There are multiple music acts playing during the day, including the Antioch Community High School Jazz Band as well as BBI Live, which will close out the night on the stage from 8 until 11 p.m.

The self-proclaimed greatest Beatles tribute band today, "American English," will close out the festival on Sunday, performing from 2 to 5 p.m. The band will host a meet and greet immediately following its performance.