Taste of Oak Brook, Village of Oak Brook, Oak Brook Polo Field

The July 3 Taste of Oak Brook is on track to be the first year the event will cover its own costs.

With a record $150,500 donated by sponsors to date, the village’s largest annual event is in good financial shape. Six years after McDonald’s move from Oak Brook to Chicago resulted in the loss of the fast good giant’s $100,000 annual donation.

Village Manager Greg Summers said Taste of Oak Brook’s 2024 expenses should be about $390,000. Parking, food and beverage revenue will bring in approximately $240,000, resulting in a projected total of approximately $390,500 in revenue.

“The Village has become increasingly active in reaching out to our businesses and suppliers to encourage their participation in the Taste of Oak Brook and has innovated new ways for sponsors to leverage that participation to increase their own brand awareness, while also increasing the use the sponsor’s brand. awareness to raise the profile of the Taste of Oak Brook,” said Summers.

He said last year’s sponsorship contributions of $102,500 were the previous record and the first year fundraising exceeded McDonald’s single donation.

The top five sponsors for the 2024 Taste of Oak Brook present sponsor CD Peacock; fireworks sponsor, Wintrust; stage sponsor, Food Brothers Disposal; cabana sponsor, Ace Hardware; beer tent sponsor, Alter Brewing+Kitchen; and children’s activities sponsor, Oak Brook Reserve.

Additional sponsors include: Inland Real Estate Group, Civiltech Engineering, Comcast, Ottosen Dinolfo Hasenbalg & Castaldo, Enterprise Fleets, Aqua Illinois, Hub Group, EZA Engineering, ITsavvy, Constellation Telecom, NRG, Euclid Beverage, Next Door Window, Capital Vacations and Nobletec.

Taste of Oak Brook begins July 3 at 4 p.m. at the Oak Brook Polo Field, 700 Oak Brook Road, just north of Oak Brook Road (31st Street) and west of York Road. The event concludes with the ever-popular fireworks show, which starts around 9:30 p.m

Along with the return of the band Sixteen Candles for a performance from 7:30 PM to 9:00 PM, a second band, Modern Day Romeos, has been added for a show from 5:30 PM to 9:30 PM.

“A lot of people came to Sixteen Candles last year, and we thought adding another band earlier in the day might get more people to come earlier,” said village board member Michael Manzo.

Along with the addition of a second band, the 2024 Taste of Oak Brook will feature more restaurants, additional cabanas, a larger beer tent, a new family tent, a new site layout, a children’s bounce house and a point-of-sale system. to allow credit card processing, instead of the traditional ticketing system, Summers said.

He said private cabana suites are returning by popular demand, with catering by Fogo de Chao and unlimited drinks.

“New this year, capacity has been increased to 75 people, and these suites have access to an air-conditioned restroom trailer,” Summers said, adding that the $20,000 cost also includes 20 VIP parking passes.

Due to safety concerns, personal tents and canopies are prohibited, Summers said. The Village offers private group spaces: 12′ x 12′ tents that can accommodate small groups and provide a picnic table and fenced lawn, along with two preferred parking passes, which cost $750.

The village offers several parking options for Taste of Oak Brook:

VIP – North Football Field Lot – $50
Preferred – $30 – Football fields northeast of the library
Value Parking – $20 – Christ Church Parking Lot
Rita Share – Drop off and pick up at Butler Junior High
Handicapped parking is available in the south lot of the Oak Brook Bath & Tennis Club – enter from Polo Drive.

Chuck Fieldman is a freelance reporter for Pioneer Press.