BOLINGBROOK – Residents will have the opportunity to walk among the streets of The Promenade Bolingbrook to sample cuisine from more than 20 area restaurants and food vendors on Thursday.
The Bolingbrook Area Chamber of Commerce will host the 2014 Taste of Bolingbrook from 2 to 10 p.m. Thursday at The Promenade, 631 E. Boughton Road.
This is the sixth year for the event, which will also feature entertainment, live music and a Kid’s Zone. The regularly scheduled farmer’s market will also take place at The Promenade during the event.
“We really want it to be a family event,” said Michael Carpanzano, executive director of The Bolingbrook Area Chamber of Commerce. “It’s an event where the [restaurants] can showcase their foods.”
The event, which is entirely free except for the food, first moved to The Promenade last year, Carpanzano said, and drew about 8,000 to 10,000 residents. This year, Carpanzano hopes to meet and exceed this number.
The number of restaurants and food vendors at the event, of which about 80 percent are located in Bolingbrook, has nearly doubled this year, Carpanzano said.
“What we found was last year the lines were incredible long and people loved the event,” Carpanzano said. “This year we did more vendors so we could get the lines down and really spread out.”
The Kid’s Zone will remain open from 2 to 8 p.m. This free feature will include a DJ, children’s crafts and activities, a makeshift bowling lane, prizes and gifts, inflatable Jumpies and a ride provided by the Illinois Aviation Museum, Carpanzano said.
The entertainment schedule will begin at 2 p.m. with a performance by the Bolingbrook Park District 's Danceforce. It will continue at 3 p.m. with Street BEAT and at 3:30 p.m. with singer Emma Rose. The entertainment will conclude with band Hey Jimmy from 7 to 9 p.m.
Carpanzano said he is encouraging residents to bring their own lawn chairs to ensure guaranteed seating for the concert, as there are only a few hundred seats set up in the grassy area of The Promenade.
Parking for the event is free in the main Promenade parking lot, as all internal streets will be closed. Carpanzano added that The Promenade stores and restaurants will also remain open during the event.
If response this year’s event echoes the same positive feedback as last year, Carpanzano said the Chamber may extend the event to Friday next year.
For a complete listing of participating restaurants and food vendors or for more information on the event, visit www.bolingbrook.org.
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2014 Taste of Bolingbrook food vendors
Ashbury’s at Boughton Ridge
Bar Louie
bd’s Mongolian Grill
Bolingbrook Golf Club
Cali Girl Cakes
Chick-fil-A of Bolingbrook
Chuck’s Southern Comforts Café and Banquets
Coop’s Den
Costco
DuPage Convention and Visitors Bureau
Famous Dave’s
Fatty Magoo’s Bar and Eatery
Gordon Biersch Brewery Restaurant
Guilty Pleasurez Cocktail Cupcakes
Mana Gourmet Products
McQ’s Sports Bar and Grill
Nancy’s Pizza of Bolingbrook
N’Awlins Edibles
Noodles Pho U
SHO Japanese Steakhouse and Sushi
Tailgaters Sports Bar and Grill
Ted’s Montana Grill
The Beer Market
Tilted Kilt Pub and Eatery
Wing Zone
