Bolingbrook Chamber moving forward with annual food fest

After much pivoting the Bolingbrook Area Chamber of Commerce has decided to go ahead with plans for the annual Taste of Bolingbrook for Saturday, Aug. 22 at The Promenade Bolingbrook.

“We’re doing a smaller version for 2020,” said Kevin O’Keeffe, executive director of the Chamber, “mini-Taste of Bolingbrook, if you will.

“This year we won’t have bands or the popular Family Fun Zone, said O’Keeffe. “We want people to feel safe when they come out, so we are encouraging social distancing, that’s too difficult with bands and the very crowded Family Fun Zone.

“We’re still in the middle of planning but we will definitely have some sort of passive entertainment.”

In previous years the annual event attracted up to 10,000 people to the restaurants and vendors sampling their wares along the streets of The Promenade.

“While we would like to have that crowd again, we thought it would be best to offer a smaller scale event for 2020,” said Grace Tucker, manager of communications and events.

“We want offer some sort of event to area residents while maintaining safety standards.”

The Chamber will have cleaning and disinfecting stations as well as giving away masks to anyone who needs one.

New this year will be a beer garden.

“We wanted to offer something new but still maintain safety protocols,” O’Keeffe said. “It will be a sectioned off area of picnic tables next to the beer truck, that maintain social distancing.”

Plans for the Taste are in flux. Follow the Chamber on Facebook or go to their website for to keep abreast of updates.