Sample all of Roselle has to offer at annual Taste

Posted July 30, 2009 11:00 pm

By Elisabeth Mistretta

Darrell Montgomery digs into a rib at the 2007 Taste of Roselle. This year's fest features more than 20 area food vendors. Paul Michna | Staff Photographer, 2007

The Taste of Roselle is exactly that, yet more than just food.

Of course the annual festival features about 20 food vendors from in and around the village. But it also includes music and performances by local residents, crafts created by Roselle natives, and events manned by area volunteers and Roselle officials.

This year's Taste of Roselle runs today through Sunday, July 31 to Aug. 2, along Main Street and offers popular traditions like live music, bingo, children's entertainment, a craft fair and carnival, as well as newer additions like a bean bag tournament offered by the Roselle Park District.

Patty Burns, Roselle village clerk and 18-year member of the Taste plan commission, said organizers strive each year to maintain all the attractions that draw approximately 20,000 visitors each year.

"We continue to do a lot of the same things because they are just so popular," Burns said.

Other special events at this year's Taste of Roselle include an appearance by the raptors, which are birds of prey, from Itasca's Springbrook Nature Center. Burns said this is always a crowd pleaser.

"People are always struck by the beauty of those animals," she said.

Civil service is also at the heart of the festival. The Roselle Fire Department will provide first-aid education throughout the event, and Roselle Police will give a rollover demonstration from 4 to 8 p.m. Saturday and child safety seat checks from noon to 3:30 p.m. at their station.

The Roselle Lions Club also will sponsor free hearing screenings from noon to 7 p.m. Saturday at the Roselle Public Library, 40 S. Park St.

The civic pride of the fest is evident in the way organizers use the profits. Every year, proceeds from the Taste of Roselle are donated to community projects. Since 1982, the Taste has donated more than $300,000 to causes such as the gazebo at Turner's Pond, the Roselle Historical Museum handicap ramp, library computer equipment, a thermal imaging camera for the fire protection district, the Roselle Racers Swim Team and more than a dozen other projects.

Ultimately, though, it's the food that really adds flavor to the Taste of Roselle. So to plan your appetite accordingly, here's a list of the Roselle-area food vendors that will be at the fest: American Legion ice cream tent; Chase Root Beer beer floats and fried Milky Way bars; Chicago Classicso hot dogs and steak tacos; Dippin Dots ice cream; Genoa Italian Concession's grilled Italian sausage and bratwurst; Lee's Concession egg rolls and grilled chicken on a stick; Little Jimmy's Italian Ice; Mediterranean Food's chicken shish kabob and seafood combo with grilled vegetables; Mylos Greek Food's gyros and chicken sandwich; Pancho's Mexican Food's tacos and steak/chicken burrito; Pina's Culinary Experience stuffed meatballs and pulled pork; R&S Concessions Italian ice; Rocco Vino's meatball sandwich and chicken Parmesan sandwich; Rosario Pizza; S & L Catering's lemon shake ups; Silver Lake Restaurant's crab Rangoon and empress chicken; Slinky's Great American Food hot dogs, bratwurst and fries; french corn offered by the Sister Cities Commission; Suzie's Funnel Cakes, offering funnel cakes and Texas burger; Strawberry Patch's waffle fries; Taco Rose quesadillas, tacos and tamales; and the beer tent sponsored by the Roselle Lion's Club and Roselle Chamber of Commerce.

Samantha Fleps of Roselle, left, and Kelsey Dachman, of Schaumburg, take advantage of the carnival during the 2006 Taste of Roselle. The carnival will return for this year's Taste, running today through Aug. 2. Daily Herald file photo

Creshone Allen of Michigan holds up her cousin, Ashanti Sproles, of Carol Stream, during the Christian Tabernacle Church choir's performance at the 2007 Taste of Roselle. The choir will perform Aug. 2 at this year's Taste. Daily Herald file photo

Taste of Roselle The 28th annual festival runs 6 to 11 p.m. today, July 31; noon to 11 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 1; and noon to 9 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 2 on Main Street between Roselle Road and Park Street. It includes food, entertainment, carnival and craft fair. Free admission and parking. Info: roselle.il.us. FRIDAY 6 to 10:30 p.m. Craft fair 6 to 11 p.m. Bingo 6 p.m. Big Ned and Electra 225 perform 8 p.m. Instant Recall performs 9:30 p.m. Broken Hip performs SATURDAY 11 a.m. to 10:30 p.m. Craft fair 12:30 p.m. Roselle's Finest Musicians I: Katie & Josie and Kyle Tasch perform 1 to 4 p.m. Birds of prey raptors exhibit 1:30 to 3 p.m. Children's games, free with a canned food donation for the Bloomingdale Township Food Pantry 2 p.m. McMillen and Co. performs 3 to 11 p.m. Bingo 3:30 p.m. Menix performs 4 to 8 p.m. Roselle Police Department rollover simulator at Main and Prospect streets 5 p.m. Pitchy and the 44s performs 5:30 p.m. Mr. D's Magic Show 6:30 p.m. Classic Addiction performs 8 p.m. Chunkey Monkey performs 9 p.m. Stormcrow performs SUNDAY 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Craft fair 12 p.m. Christian Tabernacle Church Choir performs 1 p.m. Roselle Finest Musicians II 1:30 to 3 p.m. Children's games, free with a canned food donation for the Bloomingdale Township Food Pantry 2:30 p.m. Belly Dancers of the Mystic Rose perform 3 to 9 p.m. Bingo 4 p.m. Camouflage Sun performs 5:30 p.m. Tony Spavone performs 5:30 p.m. Mr. D's Magic Show 7 p.m. Mojo Skillet performs with Jim Bartholomew

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