A Night to Remember
A Sneak Peek at the Taste of Oak Brook 2025
Oak Brook will come alive this summer with one of Chicagoland’s most anticipated events—the Taste of Oak Brook. On Thursday, July 3rd, 2025, thousands of people will gather to enjoy an unforgettable evening of food, music, and entertainment. With gates opening at 4:00 p.m., the festivities are sure to captivate visitors from all stages of life.
The Taste of Oak Brook is renowned for offering a unique blend of culinary delights. Last year’s event showcased 16 local restaurants, including favorites like Fogo de Chao, Violi, and Coa, and 2025 is set to raise the bar. Guests will have the chance to sample a diverse mix of flavors and explore Oak Brook’s vibrant dining scene, which includes the beer garden sponsored by Alter Brewing.
A highlight of the event is always the entertainment, and this year is no exception. Music fans will be in for a real treat with two amazing performances. Fearless, the ultimate Taylor Swift tribute band, will take the stage, as will Sixteen Candles, an 80s tribute band.
As the sun sets, the real magic begins. At dusk, the skies over Oak Brook will light up with Chicagoland’s best fireworks show. This year, the event will also feature an expanded drone show.
The Taste of Oak Brook is free to attend, making it accessible and fun for the whole family. Parking for the event will be available in advance, ranging from value parking at $20 to VIP parking at $50.
Backstage Pass
An inside peek into the Taste of Oak Brook
Hinsdale Magazine Group had the opportunity to speak with Duff Entertainment, who manages the Taste of Oak Brook in partnership with the village.
Hinsdale Magazine Group (HMG): How has the ‘Taste of Oak Brook’ evolved over the years, and where do you see it heading in the future?
Duff Entertainment (DE): The Taste of Oak Brook has grown from a dazzling fireworks display for the community into a large-scale, must-attend Fourth of July event for all of Chicagoland. Through our partnership, the event has grown into a highly anticipated annual event that now includes a lineup of live music, exceptional cuisine from local restaurants, drone shows, private cabanas, and the iconic fireworks display everyone has come to love.
HMG: What’s one behind-the-scenes moment in planning ‘Taste of Oak Brook’ that would surprise people the most?
DE: The amount of work and coordination that goes into an event like this is pretty intensive and isn’t something that’s simply “put together” in a few weeks. The Taste of Oak Brook takes months of intricate planning – from permits and fireworks coordination to drone technology implementation to food, beverage, live music, and everything in between. We’re incredibly proud of the work that is put forth each year to give the community an event to be proud of, however, the amount of time and details behind the event are endless, and we hope attendees appreciate the attention to detail and new elements we incorporate every year.
HMG: What’s the most unexpected challenge you’ve had to overcome while putting this festival together?
DE: When putting together a festival, there are always a lot of unknowns. For example, will attendees like the live entertainment? Will entry and exit be smooth and seamless? We wouldn’t necessarily pinpoint one challenge, but a lot of little challenges and questions always linger when putting together a large-scale event. However, having amazing working partners like the Village of Oak Brook, as well as the fireworks coordinators, reliable food and beverage vendors, top-notch entertainment and more, help ease a lot of those challenges from the outset.
HMG: How do you go about curating such an entertainment lineup? Are there any ‘wow’ moments we can look forward to this year?
DE: We root ourselves in relationships with a variety of entertainment and vendors we have built over the years. We care very much about our relationships with exceptional talent, and when we have the opportunity to partner with communities like the Village of Oak Brook, we are thrilled to be able to bring top talent to their events.
When selecting entertainment for events like The Taste of Oak Brook, we really dive into what will resonate with the community. We’re very focused on who attends, what they like, and who will keep people entertained and festive the entire evening. Simply put, we want people to have a great time.
This year, Taste of Oak Brook doesn’t necessarily have a lot of “new” elements, but rather we are expanding upon what we’ve integrated in the past. For example, we will have more VIP tents available for large parties or companies to rent, additional bands and beverage tents will be available, and we’ll be executing a stunning drone show to complement the already impressive 25-minute fireworks display.
In addition, we have expanded the drone show to include over 300 drones to put on a brilliant display ahead of the fireworks show.
HMG: This event brings together a huge team between Duff Entertainment and the Village of Oak Brook—what’s the most rewarding part about working together?
DE: Community is at the core of everything we do, and the reward is seeing the community show up and support their friends and neighbors who orchestrate these events. When you respect the community and team you’re working with, the reward is seeing event attendees genuinely enjoy themselves. It’s worth it for us to go through some pain points in order to build an event that has longevity and the potential to grow each year. It’s truly an honor to work hand-in-hand with the Village of Oak Brook to put forth events that engage the greater community.
HMG: With so many tastes to cater to, how do you balance creating a diverse menu and keeping everyone happy?
DE: We go by the old saying, “You can’t please everyone,” but we’re surely going to try!
We work with trusted food and beverage vendors that offer a wide variety of food to please as many tastes as possible.
HMG: Are there any lesser-known vendors or activities we should keep an eye out for at this year’s event?
DE: All of the names are pretty familiar to locals; however, Alter Brewing + Kitchen has expanded their beer garden this year, where those 21 years and older may enjoy refreshing beverages and unwind in their spacious seating area. Additionally, we introduced the private Cabanas two years ago, and they have been a big hit! We have expanded the private cabana suites to accommodate 75 people and catering by Fogo de Chao – a Chicagoland favorite! The suites have comfortable seating areas, as well as air-conditioned restroom trailers. Cabanas are ideal for large groups that want to entertain clients, employees, family, and friends.
HMG: What should attendees expect regarding the fireworks display?
The Village of Oak Brook is very proud to host one of the longest fireworks displays in Chicagoland. Each year, the Taste of Oak Brook fireworks displays last nearly 25 minutes—which is a lot of bang, boom, and pop! In addition, the 10-minute drone show (featuring 300 drones!) also adds a modern touch of entertainment, awing attendees with their coordinated displays, flickering lights, and more.
