Taste of Wheaton to feature food, entertainment

WHEATON – Food will once again be a prominent part of this year's Taste of Wheaton, which will run from June 2 through 5 in downtown Wheaton.

"We open our festival with the Slice of Wheaton," said Nicole Kapala, marketing and events coordinator for the Wheaton Park District, which organizes the Taste of Wheaton with the Wheaton Chamber of Commerce. "There will be several different pizza vendors from the Wheaton area, along with Graham’s Chocolate for dessert."

Admission to the festival is free. Slice of Wheaton will take place from 4 to 9 p.m. June 2 on Wheaton Avenue.

Those who attend the Taste of Wheaton will be able to find a wide variety of food. Restaurants participating in this year's festival include Steamboat BBQ, Gia Mia Pizza Bar and Choun’s Restaurant, which will serve authentic Pad Thai and other dishes.

The festival also will feature carnival rides, food vendors, a business expo, an art and craft fair, climbing wall, and daily live entertainment, Kapala said. Art in the Park is a new event this year that will take place on Hale Street, she said.

Art in the Park will feature area artists along with other attractions, such as an airbrush tattoo artist, face painter, Touch-A-Truck and teddy bear checkup sponsored by DuPage Medical Group.

In conjunction with the festival, the Cosley Zoo Run for the Animals 5K/10K will take place on June 4. Marking its 35th year, the run is one of the zoo’s biggest regular fundraisers, supporting the development and renovation of its exhibits and the superb stewardship of its animals and the environment.

Both race routes wind through residential Wheaton, and the 10K route makes a loop through Northside Park. A kids' race – the half-mile Zippity Zoo Run – also will be June 4.

The 5K and 10K kick off from Memorial Park at 7:30 a.m., with the Zippity Zoo Run following at 8:45 a.m. Overall winners and age division awards will be given for the 5K and 10K. All Zippity Zoo participants will receive an award at the finish line.

To learn more, visit cosleyzoo.org/events.

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Know more

Information about the Taste of Wheaton is available by going to tasteofwheaton.com.

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Taste of Wheaton Schedule

June 2

Prairie Path Mini Golf, 3 p.m. to dusk, 100 N. Naperville Road

Beer Sales/Garden, 4 to 9 p.m., Memorial Park

“Slice of Wheaton” Pizza Tasting, 4 to 9 p.m., Wheaton Avenue

Carnival, 4 to 10 p.m., Liberty Street

June 3

Beer Sales/Garden, 4 to 10 p.m., Memorial Park

Food Vendor Row, 4 to 10 p.m., Wheaton Avenue

Arts & Craft Fair, 4 to 8 p.m., Hale Street and Karlskoga Avenue

Marketplace in the Park, 4 to 8 p.m., Memorial Park

DWA Car Show, 6 to 9 p.m., Hale Street

June 4

Bike Valet, 6:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m., Karlskoga Avenue

Paws for Breakfast, 7 to 10 a.m., Mary Lubko Center

Cosley Run for the Animals 5K/10K, 7:30 a.m., Memorial Park and surrounding streets

Beer Sales/Garden, 8 a.m. to 10 p.m., Memorial Park

Art & Craft Fair, 8:30 a.m. to 7 p.m., Hale Street and Karlskoga Avenue

Post-Race Party/Awards, 8:30 to 11 a.m., Memorial Park Band Shell

Zippity Zoo Half-Mile Run, 8:45 a.m., Memorial Park and surrounding streets

Marketplace in the Park, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Memorial Park

Food Vendor Row, 9 a.m. to 10 p.m., Wheaton Avenue

Baggo (Free Play), 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., Memorial Park Tennis Courts

Create. Discover. Play. and Kids’ Activities, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., Hale Street

June 5

Fun Unplugged Childhood Memories Exhibit, noon to 4 p.m., DuPage County Historical Museum

Beer Sales/Garden, noon to 6 p.m., Memorial Park

Food Vendors, noon to 6 p.m., Memorial Park

Art & Craft Fair, noon to 6 p.m., Memorial Park

Marketplace in the Park, noon to 6 p.m., Memorial Park