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Business & Tech

Taste of Glen Ellyn Set for May 19-21

Chamber of Commerce fundraiser in 30th year.

A favorite Glen Ellyn tradition that typically draws 25,000 event-goers will continue this year despite a flagging economy.

Georgia Koch, director of the Glen Ellyn Chamber of Commerce, said the annual Taste of Glen Ellyn is set for May 19-21. The chamber has been holding the event for 30 years, Koch said. The taste is the biggest fundraising event for the Chamber of Commerce and provides that bulk of the organization’s operational expenses.

“We operate on our own funding, so it’s important that we try to keep this going,” Koch said.

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In addition to food from restaurants across Glen Ellyn and the surrounding area, the event features a craft show, a business expo and multiple forms of entertainment, including live music. There will also be carnival rides.

The business expo will feature information booths and displays from local businesses. Koch said the Chamber is still talking with businesses looking to participate.

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Although the event is called the Taste of Glen Ellyn, only about half of the participating restaurants are from Glen Ellyn.

“Many of the restaurants in Glen Ellyn are not set up for offsite events like the taste, so we expanded to include other restaurants from neighboring communities,” Koch said.

Despite that, Koch said she wants to showcase as many Glen Ellyn businesses as possible during the three day event. She said visitors to the taste will take the time to visit other businesses while they are in town. She said those visitors may spy a restaurant that is unable to participate in the event and choose to return to try out their cuisine.

Koch said the weather certainly plays a role in attendance. She said in 2010 it rained two of the three days of the event and prevented at least one of the musical acts from going on stage.

Some of the bands that are slated to play at this year’s event include 7th Heaven, Hi Infidelity, CTA (a Chicago tribute band), Tabula Rose, Replica and Dain Bramage.

“We’re excited about the lineup of bands we have this year. Some of them have become staples of area festivals and the people really enjoy coming out to hear them,” Koch said.

The Taste of Glen Ellyn hours are 5 p.m. – 11 p.m. May 19 and 20. On May 21 hours are noon – 11 p.m. The event is held in the Main Street parking lot next to Giesche Shoes between Hillside Avenue and Duane Street. Admission is free.

“We’re looking forward to a great event this year and we’re hoping that the weather that weekend is perfect,” Koch said.

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