Taste of River North 2026 Festival Guide for Chicago’s Summer Block Party
Taste of River North returns to Chicago on Friday, July 17, and Saturday, July 18, 2026, bringing food, music, and family-friendly programming to Wells Street between Ontario and Chicago Avenue. The two-day festival turns one of River North's busiest corridors into an open-air event space with restaurant tastings, live performances, and a dedicated kids area.
Photo Credit: facebook.com/TORNfest
Festival hours and location
The 2026 event takes place on Wells Street, between Ontario and Chicago Avenue.
Festival hours are:
Friday, July 17: 5:00 PM to 10:00 PM
Saturday, July 18: 11:00 AM to 10:00 PM
The central location makes it easy to move between food vendors, the main stage, and the DJ stage throughout the weekend.
Food vendors
This year's food lineup includes seven participating restaurants and brands:
Avli - A Mediterranean restaurant known for Greek-inspired dishes and a polished dining style.
Chick-fil-A - A popular fast-casual chain focused on chicken sandwiches and quick service.
Fogo de Chão - A Brazilian steakhouse centered on fire-roasted meats and table-side service.
Lure Fishbar - A seafood-focused restaurant with fish, oysters, and sushi.
Mercadito - A Mexican restaurant offering tacos, shared plates, and cocktails.
Moe's - A casual Southwestern spot known for burritos, bowls, and customizable Tex-Mex food.
Seoul Taco - A Korean-Mexican fusion concept combining bold flavors from both cuisines.
Fast Food • 
Brazilian • 
Mexican • 
Greek • 
Mexican • 
Seafood • 
Photo Credit: facebook.com/TORNfest
Music lineup
Live music is split between the Main Stage and the DJ Stage, with performances spread across both days.
Main Stage schedule
Friday:
6:00 PM -The Birkenrocks
8:00 PM - Rod Tuffcurls and the Bench Press
Saturday:
12:00 PM - Dog Parade presented by Dog.
12:30 PM - School of Rock
2:30 PM - Fletcher Rockwell
4:30 PM - Funky Monks
6:00 PM - The Divas
8:00 PM - Dancing Queen: An ABBA Salute
DJ Stage lineup
Dennis Ferrer - Friday headliner
Stacey Pullen - Saturday headliner
Inphinity, The Avina Brothers, Garrett Belschner, Mikey Hahn, NOSL33P, L3XX
Photo Credit: facebook.com/TORNfest
Family activities
The Kids Zone will be open:
Friday: 5:00 PM to 8:00 PM
Saturday: 11:00 AM to 7:00 PM
The Dog Parade is another highlight of the Saturday schedule, beginning at 12:00 PM on the Main Stage.
Photo Credit: facebook.com/TORNfest
What to know before you go
Because the festival is concentrated along a single street corridor, it works well for visitors who want to sample food, catch a few sets, and move around without navigating a large fairground layout. Friday evening offers a shorter, easygoing visit, while Saturday brings the full schedule of food, music, and family programming.
I love this location. In general, Chick-fil-A is known for smiling faces and great customer service, but Katie goes above and beyond! She is super friendly, knowledgeable and very accommodating! I frequent this location when I leave the train and I want to say that she’s an asset to this team!
This location is well kept and management seemingly does a great job.