Overview

• Cultural Affairs Commissioner Clinée Hedspeth told aldermen the festival will be back in Grant Park next July, with the exact weekend, including a possible Fourth of July window, still under review.
• Hedspeth linked the move to a forecast that departmental revenue will rise about 50% next year.
• This year’s three-day Taste generated $2.8 million in food and drink sales, up 12% from 2024, aided by a 10% commission now charged to vendors.
• Whether July becomes permanent remains undecided and will be discussed with the mayor’s office, as NASCAR organizers have signaled interest in returning in 2027.
• Some aldermen argued the September schedule dampened visibility this year, while the department is still determining if it has the budget to continue neighborhood offshoots in 2026.