Overview Taste of River North is a two-day street festival on Wells Street in Chicago's River North neighborhood, where local restaurants serve from the street between a band stage and a DJ stage presented by the Chicago club Spybar. It opens on a Friday evening in July and runs all day Saturday. The River North Residents Association, a neighborhood nonprofit, hosts it with Special Events Management, and a suggested donation at the gate funds the association's advocacy and charitable work. The association's 2023 edition was its 19th. On site In 2026 the festival ran on Wells Street between Ontario and Chicago. Restaurants on the street that year included Avli, Fogo de Chao, Lure Fishbar, Mercadito, Moe's Cantina, Seoul Taco, Masala Pizza and Chick-fil-A. The Main Stage carried local bands and tribute acts, among them School of Rock, Funky Monks, a Red Hot Chili Peppers tribute, and Dancing Queen, an ABBA salute, and the DJ Stage ran both days. A Friday wine tasting capped at 400 tickets pours eight samples per guest. Saturday opens with the Dog Parade, where entrants compete for Best in Show, Best Rescue and Best Costume; a Kids Zone runs both days and merchandise vendors line the block. Talent and Influencers The 2026 DJ Stage booked Stacey Pullen and Dennis Ferrer among its DJs. The Main Stage ran Fletcher Rockwell, The Divas, The Birkenrocks and Rod Tuffcurls and the Bench Press, with School of Rock opening Saturday after the parade. Track record The association says the festival grew from a small block party into one of the city's summer traditions. It moved to a new stretch of Wells Street in 2023, between Superior and Ontario, added its first dog parade that year with room for 100 dogs, and by 2026 ran the longer block between Ontario and Chicago. Brand presence Partners put their names on specific parts of the weekend: East Bank Club presented the festival in 2023, and in 2026 Spybar presented the DJ Stage and Dog.Hotel the Dog Parade. The 2026 sponsor list also carried Bubbl'r, 3 Floyds and Renewal by Andersen.