Taste of Chicago 2011 Offers Activities for All Ages
6/6/2011
In addition to offering a diverse menu from 59 Chicago area vendors, the Taste of Chicago in Grant Park, June 24-July 3, offers fun for the whole family at both the Family Village at Columbus and Jackson and at The Playground at Balbo and Columbus.
The Family Village features hands-on activities including arts and crafts stations led by area museums; family games; face painting; and green activities for kids. The full schedule is below. The Family Village will also offer a convenient baby changing area with free diapers from Dominick’s.
One of the highlights at the Family Village is Chicago’s very own Midnight Circus performing daily at noon, 2 p.m., 4 p.m. and 6 p.m. Circo Urbano, their new production, features an international cast of characters performing high-flying, gravity defying acrobatics and over the top theatrics. Admission to the Midnight Circus performance is $2 in Taste tickets.
Just south of the Family Village is The Playground that features Target’s larger-than-life turtle sandbox at Balbo and Columbus Streets featuring activities for kids and parents alike.
Additionally, The Playground offers the opportunity to work off calories by participating in daily sports, fitness and dance demonstrations. The Playground will also host Move at the Taste Wednesday, June 29 from 11 a.m. – 3 p.m. Brought to families by the Mayor’s Fitness Council, Move at The Taste will feature high energy fitness classes for all ages and abilities. There will also be games, giveaways and more. Following is the schedule of activities for Move at the Taste June 29:
11:30 a.m. Sunrise Seated Yoga with the National Center on Physical Activity &
Disability
12 p.m. Army Boot Camp with the United States Army
12:30 p.m. Family Fun and Fitness with Stretch and Grow North, Inc.
1 p.m.Strength and Core Training for Athletes with Tri-Masters Sports Initiative
Programs
1:30 p.m. Move your Body with the Chicago Park District
2 p.m. Good Form Running with Fleet Feet Sports
2:30 p.m. Get Moving with Girls in the Game
Daily activities at the Taste of Chicago’s Family Village are as follows:
Friday, June 24
11 a.m. – 3 p.m.Make your own book beats music shaker with Chicago Public
Library (ages 3-10)
11 a.m. - 3:30 p.m.Create your own Butterfly Life Cycle Necklace with Peggy
Notebaert Nature Museum (age 6 -12)
11 a.m. – 4 p.m.Chicago Public Schools Community Partnership Programs (ages 0-8,
arts & crafts, face painting)
11 a.m. – 6 p.m.Chicago Department of Family & Support Services (ages 1-12, arts &
crafts, face painting)
11 a.m. – 7 p.m.National Museum of Mexican Art (ages 4-12)
3:15 - 4:45 p.m.Free mini massages for mom & dad (ages 18 & up)
4 - 7 p.m.Play LaLoteria (Mexican Bingo, win prizes)
4:30 – 7 p.m.It’s U Caricatures (ages 16 & under)
5 – 7 p.m.Decorate and enjoy a free slice of Eli's Cheesecake (while supplies
last, ages 12 & under)
Saturday, June 25
11 a.m. – 3 p.m.Play Speed Chess Against the Best Youth Chess Players in Illinois
(ages 5-18)
11 a.m. – 7 p.m.FIRST Robotics: See cool robots drive around and do crazy things!
11 a.m. – 7 p.m.Illinois Wing Civil Air Patrol: Come Fly With Us - Learn Why Planes Fly
11 a.m. – 7 p.m.Play at Shedd's interactive kids station! (ages 2-12)
11 a.m. – 7 p.m.True Star's Karaoke and Dance Challenge
1 – 3 p.m.Meet the SMURFS
4 – 7 p.m.Take a fun photo using Green Screen Photography
Sunday, June 26
11 a.m. - 2:30 p.m.Face Painting, Temporary Airbursh Tattoos & Henna Art for Kids
11 a.m. – 7 p.m.Chicago Philatelic Society: Free Stamps for Kids
11 a.m. – 7 p.m.FIRST Robotics: See cool robots drive around and do crazy things!
11 a.m. – 7 p.m.Illinois Wing Civil Air Patrol: Come Fly With Us - Learn Why Planes Fly
11 a.m. – 7 p.m.Organic Sock Gardening with Chicago Metro AEYC (ages 2-12)
3 – 5 p.m.Design a fuzzy flower ring or a pair of super cool fuzzy super hero
glasses with K~Fleye (ages 8-14)
5:30 - 6:30 p.m.Family Bingo (win prizes)
Monday, June 27
11a.m. – 2 p.m.Healthy Farmers Market Eating Workshop with Fresh Connections
(ages 5-12, games, activities)
11 a.m. - 2:30 p.m.Be a Rocket Scientist with Adler Planetarium (ages 6-12)
11 a.m. – 3 p.m.Explore hands-on science with the Museum of Science and Industry
(ages 5-15)
11 a.m. – 7 p.m.FIRST Robotics: See cool robots drive around and do crazy things!
11 a.m. - 7 p.m.Illinois Engineering Council: Why Things Work - Everyday Engineering
2:30 – 5 p.m.Color your favorite characters from Peter Pan & Beauty and the
Beast with Broadway in Chicago (ages 3 & up)
3 – 7 p.m.""Wish you were here…"" Design a postcard of your favorite Chicago
place with the Chicago History Museum (ages 4 & up)
3:30 – 7 p.m.DHS Community Alliance Team: Fingerprint ID Kit (ages 2-18)
5:30 - 6:30 p.m.Family Bingo (win prizes)
Tuesday, June 28
11 a.m. – 3 p.m.Insect Petting Zoo and Worm Composting Demo with University of
Illinois Extension (ages 2 & up)
11 a.m. – 6 p.m.Chicago Department of Family & Support Services (ages 1-12, arts &
crafts, face painting)
11 a.m. – 7 p.m.Illinois Engineering Council: Why Things Work - Everyday Engineering
11 a.m. – 7 p.m.Learn about the Environment with Environmental Protection Agency
(ages 5-12)
11:30 a.m. - 12:15 p.m. Stretch-n-Grow - Fun Fitness for Kids (ages 3-12)
1 – 7 p.m.Sweet & Sassy summer makeovers for girls (ages 3-13)
3:30 - 4:30 p.m.Play the Giant Twister Game
5 – 7 p.m.Create your own Clay Coil Pot with Art Girl Pottery (ages 4 & up)
Wednesday, June 29
11 a.m. – 3 p.m.Food Safety at home with the Food & Drug Administration
11 a.m. – 3 p.m.Insect Petting Zoo and Worm Composting Demo with University of
Illinois Extension (ages 2 & up)
11 a.m. – 3 p.m.Make an Ape handprint with Lincoln Park Zoo (ages 2-10)
11 a.m. – 6 p.m.Chicago Department of Family & Support Services (ages 1-12, arts &
crafts, face painting)
11 a.m. – 7 p.m.Illinois Engineering Council: Why Things Work - Everyday Engineering
11 a.m. – 7 p.m.Fun activities with Radio Disney AM 1300 Chicago
3:30 – 7 p.m.Learn to draw Celtic knots with the Irish American Heritage Center
3:30 – 7 p.m.Paint a refrigerator magnet with Plaster of Paradise
Thursday, June 30
11 a.m. – 3 p.m.Create a mask or headress inspired by artwork from Africa in the Art
Institute of Chicago
11 a.m. – 3 p.m.Insect Petting Zoo and Worm Composting Demo with University of
Illinois Extension (ages 2 & up)
11 a.m. – 6 p.m.Chicago Department of Family & Support Services (ages 1-12, arts &
crafts, facepainting)
11 a.m. – 7 p.m.Bicycling Ambassadors: Learn about bike safety & win prizes! Bring
your bike helmet for a complimentary fitting!
11 a.m. – 7 p.m.Illinois Engineering Council: Why Things Work - Everyday Engineering
11 a.m. – 7 p.m.Fun activities with Radio Disney AM 1300 Chicago
3:30 – 7 p.m.Candle Art with Art Zone (ages 4-16)
Friday, July 1
11 a.m. - 2:30 p.m.Paint a refrigerator magnet with Plaster of Paradise
11 a.m. – 3 p.m.Insect Petting Zoo and Worm Composting Demo with University of
Illinois Extension (ages 2 & up)
11 a.m. – 6 p.m.Chicago Department of Family & Support Services (ages 1-12, arts &
crafts, facepainting)
11 a.m. – 7 p.m.Bicycling Ambassadors: Learn about bike safety & win prizes! Bring
your bike helmet for a complimentary fitting!
11 a.m. – 7 p.m.Illinois Engineering Council: Why Things Work - Everyday Engineering
11 a.m. – 7 p.m.Fun activities with Radio Disney AM 1300 Chicago
3 – 7 p.m.Sweet & Sassy summer makeovers for girls (ages 3-13)
Saturday, July 2
11 a.m. – 1 p.m.Japanese Culture Center: Aikido demonstration/Japanese martial
arts (ages 5 & up)
11 a.m. - 2:30 p.m.Face Painting, Temporary Airbursh Tattoos & Henna Art for Kids
11 a.m. – 7 p.m.Action Booth Photos
11 a.m. – 7 p.m.Illinois Wing Civil Air Patrol: Come Fly With Us - Learn Why Planes Fly
11 a.m. – 7 p.m.True Star's Karaoke and Dance Challenge
1:30 - 4:30 p.m.Design masks inspired by African motifs with DuSable Museum of
African American History (ages 5-12)
3 – 6 p.m.Candle Art with Art Zone (ages 4-16)
5 – 7 p.m.Free mini massages for mom & dad (ages 18 & up)
Sunday, July 3
11 a.m. – 1 p.m.Free mini massages for mom & dad (ages 18 & up)
11 a.m. – 2 p.m.Design your own patriotic crafts with the Bronzeville Children's
Museum (ages 3-9)
11 a.m. – 3 p.m.Face Painting, Temporary Airbursh Tattoos & Henna Art for Kids
11 a.m. – 5 p.m.Illinois Wing Civil Air Patrol: Come Fly With Us - Learn Why Planes Fly
11 a.m. – 5 p.m.True Star's Karaoke and Dance Challenge
1:30 - 4:30 p.m.It’s U Caricatures
2:30 – 5 p.m.Paint a refrigerator magnet with Plaster of Paradise
Taste of Chicago
The Taste of Chicago aims to enhance the customer experience this year with more dining pavilions and seating throughout the entire event. New Taste parking lots are available for a special discounted rate. Take the free McDonald’s Family Trolley from the Taste lots to the event. See www.tasteofchicago.us for more details, lot locations and maps.
Take public transportation to the Taste. For CTA, RTA and Metra travel routes, call 836-7000 in all Chicago area codes, 312-836-4949 (TTY) or visit www.transitchicago.com.
Hours at the Taste of Chicago are 11 a.m. - 8:30 p.m. from June 24-July 2 and 11 a.m.-6 p.m. on July 3. Admission to Taste of Chicago is free. Food and beverage tickets are sold in strips of 12 for $8 (includes $2 charge for Taste amenities). Purchase food and beverage tickets in advance for only $6 per strip from June 16-23 when you show your Fresh Values Card at Dominick’s. Tickets are $8 per strip from June 24-July 3 while supplies last at Dominick’s.
For more information, visit www.tasteofchicago.us or call 312-742-4387.
Taste of Chicago is presented by the Chicago Park District and by Bud Light, Chicago Tribune, Pepsi, Chicago Transit Authority, United Airlines, V103, Inspiration 1390AM, Dominick's, Eli's Cheesecake Company, E.J. Gallo Winery, Hinckley Springs, Humana, Illinois Lottery, Radio Disney AM 1300 Chicago, Shoreline Sightseeing, 93XRT, CLTV-ChicagoLand's Television, Communications Direct, LaGrou Distribution System, WGN-Television, McDonald’s, Target, Sensodyne, Univision Radio, US99.5, Dyson Air Multiplier Fan, and Healthcraft.
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