Taste of Glen Ellyn opens with Back to School Day Aug. 11
The Taste of Glen Ellyn & Carnival opens on Wednesday, Aug. 11, at a new location downtown on Glenwood Avenue and Crescent Boulevard, west of Main Street. As things are getting back to normal in the community, the family-friendly event will look a bit different. The free five-day carnival and festival has been scaled down for 2021. This event will follow CDC guidelines.
The annual event features a variety of live entertainment including Chicago area bands and dance groups, a community stage showcasing local youth groups, and a back-to-school celebration. Enjoy all the event has to offer with festive foods, cold beverages, a business expo, and carnival rides.
New this year restaurants will feature a small "taste off" their menu. Come and sample, Wednesday through Sunday, a variety of food from local restaurants and your carnival favorites. There also will be cold beer, seltzers, sangria and wine.
The festival will kick off Wednesday, Aug. 11, with Back to School Day, featuring local Glen Ellyn schools from 1:30 to 7:30 p.m. There will be special activities to get kids excited about the upcoming school year, including a "Silly Shower" staffed by principals and teachers; photo booth with free prints to take home; a story station for the youngest of learners; games; and more. Glen Ellyn schools will hold information tables to help celebrate and get kids excited about going back to school.
Enjoy live bands of all genres starting Thursday, Aug. 12, to Saturday, Aug. 14.
Join in "Kickin' It with Carol" line dancing from 5 to 5:30 p.m. and 7:30 to 8 p.m. Thursday. The country cover band Gone Country will perform from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m., followed by 7DEEZ, the disco funk Motown tribute band, from 8 to 10 p.m.
On Friday, Serendipity will perform the best pop rock from the 1960s to today from 6 to 8 p.m. The classic rock band ARRA will be 8:30 to 10:30 p.m.
On Saturday, School of Rock's adult and youth house bands will perform between noon to 5:30 p.m. Jenny V and the Flames will perform rockabilly rock & roll from 6 to 8 p.m. Eclipse will put on a multimedia Pink Floyd tribute from 8:30 to 10:30 p.m.
On Sunday, local dance companies, martial art studios, musical performers will take the stage between noon and 8 p.m. The community stage will showcase Mexican Folklore Dance at noon, followed by Aspirations Dance Company at 1 p.m. Glen Ellyn's Yong-In USA Martial Arts will take the stage at 1:30 p.m. and Wheaton's Front Street Dance will perform at 2 p.m.
The McNulty School of Irish Dance will kick up their heels at 2:30 p.m., followed by a solo artist at 3:30 p.m. and Wheaton's LOVV the Dance Studio at 3:45 p.m. The Trinity Irish Dancers will take the stage at 4:30 p.m., followed by Glen Ellyn's U.S. Martial Arts Academy at 5 p.m. and DeForest Dance at 6 p.m. Cover Me will perform new and old acoustic music from your favorite artists, including the Beatles, Daughtry, Barenaked Ladies, The Who, Paolo Nutini, Plain White T's, Sister Hazel, and more from 7 to 8 p.m.
The Business Showcase Expo connects businesses to thousands of customers, face to face, giving them a chance to showcase their businesses. Visit their booths Wednesday through Sunday.
A portion of the proceeds of the carnival will fund a new scholarship program for local high school students. Carnival hours are 1 to 10 p.m. Wednesday to Friday, 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Saturday, and 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Sunday. Purchase a wristband for $25 for unlimited rides from 1 to 5 p.m. Wednesday to Friday, and 5 to 8 p.m. Sunday.
For more information, visit www.GlenEllynChamber.com/Taste or call the Glen Ellyn Chamber of Commerce at (630) 469-0907.