2008 Taste of Champaign Urbana
Friday June 20
Saturday June 21
Sunday June 22
Feel the excitement!
Can you feel the excitement? Can you smell the
food and hear the music? Then you have just arrived
at the 38th Annual Taste of Champaign-Urbana,
winner of the 2007 News-Gazette award for the
Best Festival in East Central Illinois! Discover the fun
that awaits you and your family at West Side Park
as the Champaign Park District hosts the premiere
festival of the summer. Taste benefits a great cause,
the Champaign Park District’s Youth Scholarship
fund, which provides opportunities for youth who
are unable to participate in recreational programs
because of economic hardship.
Taste something new!
This weekend eat with a good conscience knowing
you are supporting a great cause! 25 restaurants
will be in the park to tempt your taste buds with
everything from mouth-watering desserts and ice
cream to spicy BBQ. Try dishes from around the
world or indulge in a local favorite. All restaurants
were reviewed by a committee to ensure the dishes
they offer are the best of their kind. And your taste
tests give youth the chance to try something new
too, like art, sports, or preschool! Now that’s sweet!
Hear something great!
We’ve also got a feast for your ears! Taste of
Champaign-Urbana offers free concerts from some
of the best bands around with a sweet sound to meet
everyone’s taste. Local and regional entertainers from
throughout the Midwest will cook up something great
for the whole family on our four exciting stages.
Zone in on the Fun!
Come try out inflatables, pony rides, and karaoke
or bring the whole family to one of the two Fun Zone
stages which feature storytelling, magicians, game
shows, puppets and other fun activities in a familyfriendly
atmosphere. Taste is fun for all!
See the sights!
50 artists and crafters will showcase their work in
West Side Park this weekend. Check out the unique
and creative sights that await you and shop for pottery,
paintings, photography, jewelry, ceramics, and crafts.
Also, make sure to stop by our Demo Row to view
artists at work as they demonstrate their craft!
Grab your tickets and go!
It’s even easier to get your Taste tickets this year as
we have added a second Ticket Tent! Start your tasty
experience either at the Ticket Tent near the center
of the park or on the west side of the park next to the
Verizon Wireless Fun Zone. Tickets are sold in booklets
of 9 for $5 and are good for all food and activities
throughout the event. Ticket sales end 30 minutes prior
to the event closing each day.
Street parking is available throughout downtown
Champaign. Handicap accessible parking is located at
Emmanuel Memorial Episcopal Church (100 North Park
Street at State Street). Please note that State and Elm
Streets will be closed for the event.
It IS Easy Being Green!
Please help us promote a healthy environment for all
guests and our planet. We’ve made a conscious effort
to be more “green” this year by using recycled paper
for our tickets and materials, providing recycling bins
throughout the park, and encouraging vendors to be
green. Do your part by recycling, keeping our parks
clean, and riding your bike to the event. As our thanks
for riding your bike, you will receive a coupon for a free
beverage at one of our Pepsi tents! A bike corral is
located in the southeast corner of the park, so bring your
lock. Please avoid riding bikes through the festival and
refrain from smoking inside the entertainment tents.
Thanks to you!
Thanks to our sponsors, volunteers, and patrons for
making Taste 2008 an event to savor!
Interested in volunteering at one of our events? Click here to find out more information!
Sponsors
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