Taste of Highland Park
Friday, June 19 | 5 PM - 10 PM
Saturday, June 20 | 3 PM - 10 PM
Port Clinton Square | 600 Central Ave.
The Taste of Highland Park is downtown Highland Park’s premiere dining and music festival. Mark your calendars for 2026’s event: Friday, June 19 and Saturday, June 20.
The City of Highland Park is bringing the ultimate outdoor entertainment and dining experience to Downtown Highland Park with the Taste of Highland Park June 19 from 5 PM - 10 PM & June 20 from 3 PM - 10 PM. Located along Central Avenue, between Second St. and St. Johns Ave., and in Port Clinton Square (600 Central Ave.), sample over a dozen local food and beverage vendors and get a taste of what sets Highland Park’s restaurant scene apart on Chicago’s North Shore.
Get ready for more food, more music, and even more fun for 2026!
New for 2026: Enhance your experience with air conditioned seating & dining areas, as well as an all-new photography exhibit showcasing the winners of the Capture the Heart of Highland Park photography contest. Plus, families will enjoy special children-focused programming from 3 PM - 5 PM on Saturday. Lastly, Highland Park’s very own Bitter Jester Music Festival, celebrating 20 years in HP, will program 5:30 PM - 6:30 PM on Saturday.
2026 Entertainment Lineup
Friday, June 19 with DJ Madrid
5 PM - 5:30 PM | Beloved hometown favorites Highland Park Players kick off the Taste of Highland Park with selections from their upcoming production of Beautiful: The Carole King Musical running July 17-26, 2026
5:30 PM - 5:45 PM | Highland Park Mayor Nancy Rotering welcomes the crowd to the 2026 Taste of Highland Park and gives a special America250 address
5:45 PM - 6:30 PM | Celebrate America’s semiquincentennial and recognize Juneteenth with a vibrant dance and choral experience led by Waukegan-based ALATS Dance Company. ALATS Dance Company will be joined by MC4, a traveling group of siblings known for their beautiful harmonies, and Gospel Friends, a group of six singers accompanied by a three-piece band
7 PM - 8 PM | Next up is Rumor Hazit, a high-energy cover band known for crowd-pleasing hits spanning rock, pop, and throwback favorites that keep audiences singing along
8:30 PM - 10 PM | Friday’s headliners, the All American Throwbacks, are a dynamic tribute band delivering nostalgic rock and pop anthems from the ‘80s, ‘90s, and 2000s with powerhouse vocals and big-stage energy
Saturday, June 20 with DJ Julian
3 PM - 5:15 PM | Introducing, brand new for 2026, children’s hours at the Taste of Highland Park! Enjoy complimentary face painting, airbrush tattoos, meet popular children’s characters, and sing and dance along to Mary Macaroni (3 PM - 3:30 PM) and Laura Doherty (4 PM - 4:30 PM). Highland Park’s very own Uptown Music Theater will perform a professional sneak-peek mini concert featuring songs from the upcoming production of Disney’s The Little Mermaid running July 18 - August 2. As a bonus, the actors playing the lead roles of Ariel, Ursula, and Sebastian will autograph mini-posters for kids after the performance! While the entire Taste of Highland Park is family-friendly, this portion is specifically geared toward children
5:30 PM - 6:30 PM | 2026 marks the 20th anniversary of the Bitter Jester Music Festival right here in Highland Park. In honor of this incredible achievement, and ahead of the Bitter Jester grand finale in Downtown Highland Park on June 27, special guests and BJMF alum Charlieboy will perform
7 PM - 8 PM | Popular acoustic rock duo, Mike & Joe, is known for tight harmonies and energetic covers of classic and modern rock favorites. They’re sure to get the crowd moving!
8:30 PM - 10 PM | Headliner Eve 6, a nationally recognized alternative-rock band best known for high-energy live performances will close out the evening with chart-topping hits including “Inside Out,” “Here’s to the Night,” “Promise,” and more
2026 Restaurant Lineup
Getting to the Taste & Parking
The Taste of Highland Park will take place at Port Clinton Square (600 Central Ave.) as well as along Central Ave. between First St. and Second St.
Ample parking can be found throughout downtown Highland Park, including a parking garage underneath Port Clinton Square, nearby surface lots, a two-level parking deck south of Central on First St. and St. Johns, and a large lot located at 525 Central Ave. The City encourages guests to use non-motorized transportation where available. Bike racks are available at The Lot and in the immediate vicinity, and the Metra is a viable option, too. Information about parking in the City of Highland Park is available here.
Downtown Highland Park is also easily accessible via public and non-motorized transport.
Metra - take UP-N to the Highland Park station, located a 4 minute walk from The Lot.
Pace Bus - take Highland Park/Highwood Route 472 to the St. Johns/Central stop, across the street from The Lot.
Bike/Walk - from the north, take the Robert McClory Bike Trail south to Vine Ave. Head east on Vine, turning south onto St. Johns Ave. From the south, take the Robert McClory Bike Trail north along St. Johns Ave. Bike racks are available at The Lot and in the immediate vicinity.
Thank You to Our 2026 Sponsors!
For sponsorship opportunities and packages, please contact Ripple Public Relations - info@ripplepublicrelations.com / 847.432.6000
