Taste of Park Ridge returns July 10-12

Save the date for the Taste Of Park Ridge, which will run from July 10-12 this year and include the regular collection of local food options, live music, kids activities, business networking and much more — all in the heart of Uptown Park Ridge on Summit Avenue.

Thursday’s hours are 11 a.m.-10:30 p.m., and on Friday and Saturday the festival will run 11 a.m.-11 p.m. The band lineup includes Serendipity (pop/rock from the 1960s-‘80s) at 6 p.m. and 7th Heaven (check out their famous “30 songs in 30 Minutes” medley) at 8:30 p.m. Thursday, Stonedrift (party covers) at 5 p.m., Poisn’d Crue (’80s rock) at 6:45 p.m. and Arra Classic Rock at 9 p.m. Friday, and The Ginger Road (rockin’ country) at 6:45 p.m. and Kashmir (Led Zeppelin experience) at 9 p.m. on Saturday.
Food vendors include D’Agostino’s, Triple Scoop’d, City BBQ, Shemroon Kabab House, Poke Burrito, Mi Restaurante and more. Saturday’s Canopies on Cortland small-business expo runs from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. and the kids’ activities (bounce houses, musicians, face painting, train rides and games) will be held from 11 a.m.-3 p.m. Saturday.
For more information, visit TasteOfParkRidge.com

Market After Dark events June 21 and Aug. 23, and the Park Ridge Farmers Market runs through October

Last summer’s fun new addition to our community events calendar is back — and guaranteed to be even better in its second go-round. Market After Dark, located in the same parking lot location as the Park Ridge Farmer’s Market (15 Prairie Ave.), was a huge success in its first year. And the Chamber of Commerce committee has added even more options to the schedule for year two.

Featuring a variety of food and art vendors, mixed with small-business pop-ups, live entertainment and a large, handpicked rotation of local guest breweries, wineries and distilleries, this is the type of summer street party everyone can enjoy.

This summer’s remaining two Market After Dark events (the first was May 31) will take place from 4:30-9:30 p.m. June 21 and Aug. 23 — and tasting options will be available for the various distilleries, breweries and wineries. For more information and updates, visit MarketAfterDark.com

The Park Ridge Farmers’ Market, meanwhile, remains the ideal way to casually kickstart your summer and fall weekends here in town. Take time to peruse a wonderful selection of fruits, vegetables and an array of other products from more than 40 vendors from 7 a.m.-1 p.m. rain or shine every Saturday through the end of October. Located at 15 Prairie Avenue between Main and Garden. ParkRidgeFarmersMarket.com

Rockin’ in the Park free concerts return to Rosemont’s Parkway Bank Park on Thursdays this summer

Rosemont’s Parkway Bank Park entertainment district kicks off its summer season with the return of the “Rockin’ in the Park” free summer concert series. Free concerts run every Thursday and select Friday evenings (June 27, July 25 and Aug. 29) through August 29, featuring music by classic cover bands (think Journey, Van Halen, Bon Jovi, The Who, Rush, Tom Petty, ELO, boy bands and more) alongside food and beverage tents on the park’s lawn. Thursday night concerts will culminate with a musical fireworks display. A great place to grab dinner and a spot on the patio is Crust Brewing.

All “Rockin’ in the Park” concerts run from 7-10 p.m. Admission to “Rockin’ in the Park” is free. Outside food and coolers are prohibited. Parking is available at the Parkway Bank Park parking garage and is free with validation from any of the park’s venues.

For a full schedule, visit ParkwayBankPark.com

Friday Concerts in the Park from the Park Ridge Fine Arts Society

The tradition continues in Hodges Park, as the Park Ridge Fine Arts Society hosts a total of six free Friday concerts this summer. Catch the Park Ridge Fine Arts Symphony Orchestra on July 11, 18 and 25, followed by the Brian Patti Big Band Aug. 1, the Illinois Brass Band Aug. 8 and the Brian Patti Big Band again to close out the season Aug. 15. Performances begin at 8 p.m., and donations are accepted. Visit PRFAS.org for more info.

Goldfish Swim School’s block party benefiting Compass to Care is Aug. 8



Whether you’re a Goldfish member or not, bring the kiddos out for a fun evening at this popular swim school’s annual block party on Friday, Aug. 8 from 5-7 p.m. Activities include a dunk tank, performance by School of Rock, open swim session, face painting, treats, giveaways from local businesses and more. $15 per family, with all proceeds benefiting Compass to Care childhood cancer foundation. 678 N. Northwest Highway in Park Ridge. (224) 585-3891. GoldfishSS.com

Summer reading program at the Park Ridge Public Library

Whether you’re planning to read picture books to your newborn, are a high school student who loves a good dystopian novel, a busy parent who prefers audiobooks, or just someone who has always loved to read, the Park Ridge Library invites you to read with them all summer. The more you read, the more chances you get to win a fun prize.

Stop in the library and sign up at Reader Services (for adults), in the Teen Loft or in Children’s Services. Children can get a Refer a Grown-Up card and bring their favorite adult upstairs to get them signed up as well. Every child who uses a referral card will be entered into a separate prize drawing to win a $25 gift card.

For children, every 10 days of reading earns you a chance to win fabulous prizes. Finish at least 30 days of reading to receive a prize book. For grades 6-12, any day that you read at least 20 minutes counts as one day. Complete the program after logging 30 days of reading, but if you want to keep going and earning virtual raffle tickets, you can earn rewards for up to 70 days. 20 S. Prospect Ave. For more info, visit ParkRidgeLibrary.org

Tavern on the Point’s Irish nachos

Happy hour deals

A welcome addition to the thriving alfresco dining scene in Park Ridge is the beautiful new front patio at Mully’s Grill and Social18 at the end of Main Street. Don’t leave without trying the gyros or Mully’s burger, and be sure to check out the weekday happy hour from 3-6 p.m. with $7 house wines, $4 Miller Lites, $6 vodka cocktails, $8 Jim Beam old fashioneds and more. 24 Main Street in Park Ridge. MullysGrill.com

The weekday happy hour deal from 3-6 p.m. at Tavern on the Point in Edison Park is one of the best around with $5 house wines, $15 domestic buckets, $8 espresso martinis, $8 old fashioned and Manhattan cocktails, and half-priced select appetizers like flatbread pizzas, Irish nachos and their famous elote dip. And did we mention the rooftop deck is open and waiting for your crew? 6724 N. Northwest Hwy in Edison Park. TavernOnThePoint.com