Taste of River North

Schedule

1. Friday, July 17, 2026 — Festival hours: 5-10 p.m.; Kids Zone 5-8 p.m.; wine/spirit tasting 6-9:30 p.m.; Main Stage includes The Birkenrocks at 6 p.m. and Rod Tuffcurls and the Bench Press at 8 p.m.
2. Saturday, July 18, 2026 — Festival hours: 11 a.m.-10 p.m.; Kids Zone 11 a.m.-7 p.m.; Dog Parade check-in at 11 a.m. and parade starts at 11:25 a.m.; Main Stage includes School of Rock, Fletcher Rockwell, Funky Monks, The Divas, and Dancing Queen.
3. July 17-18, 2026 — DJ Stage: Official site highlights Dennis Ferrer as Friday headliner and Stacey Pullen as Saturday headliner, with Inphinity, The Avina Brothers, Garrett Belschner & Mikey Hahn, NOSL33P, L3XX, and more.

What to expect

Taste of River North returns July 17-18, 2026 on Wells Street between Ontario and Chicago. The official site lists food from Avli, Fogo de Chao, Lure Fishbar, Mercadito, Moe's, Seoul Taco, and more, plus a Main Stage, DJ Stage, Friday tasting event, Saturday dog parade, and Kids Zone. It is more polished than sprawling: River North restaurants, house/DJ energy, and a family strip in daylight before the night crowd takes over.

Tickets

Free to enter; a $10 suggested donation supports the River North Residents Association according to Save Our Street Fests and RNRA context. Optional wine/spirit tasting is ticketed separately: official tasting page lists $20 advance or $25 at the door for eight samples. Dog Parade registration is $10.

Transit

Brown/Purple Line to Chicago is two blocks; Red Line to Grand is a 5-minute walk. The 22 Clark, 36 Broadway, and 156 LaSalle buses all stop within a block. Driving is expensive ($30+ in River North garages) but doable; rideshare drop-offs on Hubbard or Ohio.

Bag policy

No formal bag check; ID required at all alcohol vendors.

Family-friendly

Workable for kids during the day — wide Wells Street footprint, daytime art installations are kid-engaging. Saturday before 4 p.m. is the family slot; evening becomes a 21+-leaning patio crawl. No dedicated kids' programming most years.

Food and drink

• Avli — Listed on the official restaurant sampling lineup.
• Chick-fil-A — Official food lineup.
• Fogo de Chao — Official food lineup.
• Lure Fishbar — Official food lineup.
• Mercadito — Official food lineup.
• Moe's — Official food lineup.
• Seoul Taco — Official food lineup.

Local tips

1. Saturday lunch (noon–2 p.m.) is the move — restaurants are fresh, lines are short, and you can hit 4–5 places easily.
2. Friday night is small and chill; Saturday night is the peak crowd.
3. Don't miss the smaller booths from the off-Wells restaurants (Hubbard, Kinzie) — they typically have the more interesting plates than the Wells flagships.
4. Pre-load a festival token card if it's offered — vendors accept it faster than cards.
5. Pair with a drink at one of River North's rooftops (Cindy's at the Chicago Athletic, LH Rooftop, ROOF on theWit) before or after the fest.
6. Wells Street is sun-exposed; bring a hat for Saturday afternoon.
7. Skip if you wanted big-name music — the stages are background-tier acts.

Frequently asked questions

When is Taste of River North 2026?

Friday, July 17 from 5-10 p.m. and Saturday, July 18 from 11 a.m.-10 p.m.

Where is it?

The official page says Wells Street between Ontario and Chicago.

Is there an admission fee?

It is free to enter; a $10 suggested donation supports the River North Residents Association and helps fund entertainment, security, cleanup, and neighborhood programs.

Is there a Kids Zone?

Yes. Friday 5-8 p.m. and Saturday 11 a.m.-7 p.m.

Is there a dog parade?

Yes. Saturday morning; registration is required and costs $10, with check-in at 11 a.m. and parade start at 11:25 a.m.