Taste of Randolph bites in Chicago for the 48th time

Chicago's West Loop area kicks off festival season with Taste of Randolph from June 13-15, 2025. The title refers to 900 West Randolph Street, where the festivities are based. For three days between Peoria Street and Racine Avenue, the West Loop Community Organization highlighted businesses from a thriving neighborhood of Chicago.

A suggested donation at the gate benefits the business alliance and maintains this street fair. This was the 48th year for consumers and organizations to come together and converge in one place. On Friday night, the gates opened at 5 p.m., with Saturday and Sunday opening at noon. All three nights closed down at 10 p.m. to give the neighbors some peace and quiet.

At the West Stage, Q101 presented Piqniq with popular music acts like Phantogram and OK Go while the East Stage featured DJs spinning tunes such as queer artist J. Worra in the lineup.

The later the hour, the bigger the crowd, as humans, sometimes with pets, hit the streets to experience what the Taste had to offer.

Food stations such as Hide+Seek and Porkchop provided hefty portions for patrons on the north side of the street. Cafe Tola's empanadas and Roop burgers were standouts in a section full of good eats. Chocolate Moonshine Co. supplied fudge for dessert and Dunkin' supplied mocha coffee to wash it down. The Goddess & Grocer's sold samples of a few items on their menu, but left the rainbow cake out in the rain during Pride month!

Adult beverages kept the party going and beer sponsors were a big part of that, with Stella Artois, Goose Island and Michelob Ultra all heavily featured. NÜTRL vodka seltzers and THC hemp-infused margaritas by Señorita added to the fiesta as well. La Colombe coffee woke them up and Liquid Death cooled them down, as patrons explored the retail items along the sidewalks.

Chicago Shirt Co. sold fun t-shirts at an affordable price and Fred Astaire Dance Studios offered classes for all walks of life. Items at the festival ranged from art, jewelry and clothing to grooming products. Merchants put their best foot forward to strut their stuff and sell products to eager patrons looking for a crafty deal. The market along the rectangle-shaped route was full of vendors who used Square software to charge credit cards as a payment option.

Taste of Randolph gave those who attended a heaping spoonful of memories to take home with them and digest. Much more than a taste, this vital street festival gave sustenance to a community hungry to succeed.

For more information, visit tasteofrandolph.org and enjoy the Taste before it's too late.