Taste of Roselle returns July 30-Aug. 1

Roselle is bringing back Taste of Roselle in late July, one of many of the village's summer festivals set to resume as COVID-19 pandemic conditions improve.

The food festival will run from July 30 to Aug. 1 on Main Street, with offerings from a variety of local vendors.

Held since 1982, the fest will join several other community events, such as: the Roselle Community Reverse Parade on June 13; the Summer Concert Series, June 3 to Aug. 13; and the Labor Day Fireworks Display on Sept. 4. There is no admission cost for these events.

Taste of Roselle and the other events were canceled in 2020 as a result of the pandemic.

Illinois is now under the Bridge Phase of the "Restore Illinois" plan, which will increase the number of people in large gatherings such as festivals to 30 people per 1,000 square feet. It is the preliminary step to Phase 5, where capacity limits will be fully lifted in the state. Gov. J.B. Pritzker said the state should be in Phase 5 by June 11.

"With the state currently in the Bridge Phase of the Restore Illinois Plan, and Phase 5 very likely coming in June, we are ecstatic to start planning for the festival season this summer," Mayor David Pileski said in a statement. "The Taste of Roselle is one of the biggest celebrations in the village, and I am looking forward to reconnecting with our community at the Taste this summer."

The pandemic still caused the cancellation of several events in the village this year. Roselle's Rose Parade and Rose Festival, which are typically held the first week of June, had to be called off due to uncertainty surrounding the Bridge Phase. The fireworks display was postponed from its planned July 4 celebration to Labor Day.

The Taste of Roselle is sponsored by the Roselle Lions Club, which is seeking food vendors for the three-day event. "We're optimistic about our ability to host a full-scale Taste and are actively seeking vendors to help us host this time-honored summer block party," Roselle Lions Club Member and Taste of Roselle Chairperson Marc Hoarle said in a statement. "Vendors, sponsors, and other groups interested in participating are encouraged to visit www.rosellelions.com to sign up. We can't host this event without our partners."