Joliet ready for Taste weekend
By Janet Lundquist jlundquist@stmedianetwork.com June 25, 2012 6:16PM
Judy Salman (left) and Denise Bertucci assemble the booth for Cupcakes for a Cause on Thursday, June 23, 2011, during setup for the Taste of Joliet at Memorial Stadium in Joliet, Ill. | Sun-Times Media file photo
Taste of Joliet performers
Friday
5 p.m.: Toy
6 p.m.: 7th Heaven
9 p.m.: REO Speedwagon
Saturday
2:30 p.m.: Lockdown
4 p.m.: MisEducation
5 p.m.: Time Machine
7 p.m.: Ann Marie
9 p.m.: Josh Turner
Sunday
11:30 a.m.: Radio Disney Road Crew
Noon: Radio Disney’s Next Big Thing On Tour
12:30 p.m.: Radio Disney’s
Shealeigh
1 p.m.: Shane Harper
3:45 p.m.: Petty Cash
5 p.m.: Little Big Town
Article Extras
Related Stories
Updated: July 27, 2012 6:06AM
JOLIET — The headline performer at this weekend’s Taste of Joliet will make a lot of Taste regulars happy.
For seven years, since the Joliet Park District brought back the annual summer event, the main stage has held some pretty big acts — Kenny Rogers, Rick Springfield, Julianne Hough, Eddie Money and 10,000 Maniacs, to name a few.
But people have been consistently clamoring for one band in particular, said Brad Staab, the park district’s superintendent of communication.
REO Speedwagon will take the stage at 9 p.m. Friday.
The park district announced the band’s intention to perform at the Taste last December.
Taste of Joliet opens at noon Friday on ATI Field at Joliet Memorial Stadium, at Infantry Drive and Jefferson Street.
It will be open from noon to midnight Friday and Saturday and 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Sunday. Free parking is available near the stadium and south of the Harlow Lockwood softball fields.
Work to coordinate and plan the annual Taste of Joliet is a year-round undertaking, Staab said.
Besides the live music scheduled each night, there will be carnival rides and amusements to help you digest the treats from the more than 20 food vendors slotted for the event.
There also will be kid-specific attractions, such as a bounce house, face painting and a balloon artist.
Admission costs range from $5 to $30, depending on the type of ticket you buy.
Senior citizens can get in for $5, while general admission is $10. Seats near the front of the stage will cost you $30.
And from noon to 3 p.m. Friday, admission is free.
The Taste of Joliet has turned a profit for the park district over the last five years, Staab said. Having more than 50 sponsors, including title sponsor D’Arcy GMC Joliet, helps.
“We’d like to thank the Joliet Police Department and fire department, all our volunteers and staff. It’s really a community thing,” Staab said. “We couldn’t do it without the sponsors, police and fire and volunteers, we couldn’t do it.”
For more information about the event, visit tasteofjoliet.com.
