Taste of Glen Ellyn

The real highlight here is the carnival Giant Drop ride.
Go on it with someone who is scared of heights, you’ll doubt yourself.

This past weekend Glen Ellyn sponsored their annual Taste. This was my first time to Glen Ellyn’s version of a family fun weekend that most times is overrun by annoying teenage punks. Lombard Taste, you know what I’m talking about. I would say this is your average, run-​of-​the-​mill, get what you pay for (it was free) local festival.
For being a «Taste» there wasn’t all that much being offered from local vendors. There were maybe 4 vendors with local treats like Tap House Grill, Chicks ‘n Salsa, Chicago Prime Meat Market and a pizza joint. The rest of the food was your «eat with caution, likely to induce some serious commode time» typical carni-​culprits like gyros and meat on a stick. Who doesn’t love deep fried snickers that are advertised as «tastes like warm fudge»? ughhhhh.
The arts and crafts were a sight for sore eyes. Actually, eyes that hurt really, really bad. They did have a climbing wall that seemed to be quite a hit with the youngsters. And I totally would have scaled that thing if not for the fear of ripping my pants open in front of the school-​aged innocent.
The free concerts on Saturday night made up for what could have been a bust of a weekend. Tin Horse, a country chick’s band, and The New Invaders, a 60’s cover band, kept us highly entertained throughout the cold night. Part of that might have had to do with the beer tent and those little $ 5 red tickets.
My advice to next years Taste Committee — pick it up a notch, think about what people actually want to see/​do at a festival, not just what’s always been done. Promote local biz but do it in a modern way that will make people want to come back next year.