Taste of Orland keeps the fun going for 20 years

By Isabella Schreck

With live music and karaoke, dozens of food vendors and activities for kids, there was something for everyone at the 20th anniversary Taste of Orland.

The Taste ran from Friday through Sunday, and despite a rainy Saturday and an overcast Sunday, hordes of people filled the Village Hall lot and surrounding areas. Next year, the weekend-long event will be held at the new concert venue the village is building at Centennial Park West.

Even with the sporadic rain throughout Saturday’s festivities, Deborah Jones, of Orland Park, said she and her neighbors still had an enjoyable experience.

“Oh, I still had a good time,” she said. “If I had a coat on, I probably would stay longer. I would definitely come again. The music is great, and it is just nice to be out with the community. I might come back tomorrow night.”

Jones first attended the fest six years ago, and Saturday was her second time at the Taste.

She sat and listened to the music while eating her favorite Southwest egg rolls from Cooper’s Hawk.

Papa Joe’s, Barracco’s, Nothing Bundt Cakes, Jamba Juice and Gaston’s Bistro were some of the dozens of other food vendors around the main stage.

Orland Township, St. Michael’s Parish, Orland Park Fire Protection and Northwestern Medicine, which presented The Taste, had booths with information and free giveaways, along with other organizations.

Along with a veteran’s tribute Saturday, Orland Park Mayor Keith Pekau’s favorite event of the night, and a car show Sunday, the Taste had a stacked music lineup all three days.

Fool’s House, a ‘90s dance-party music band, performed last on Friday night at the main stage, Elton Live, an Elton John Tribute band, ended Saturday’s festivities and Beatles’ tribute band American English closed out the weekend on Sunday.

On Saturday, Live Band Karaoke entertained the Community Stage from 8-11 p.m. Participants, either by themselves or with a group, came up to the stage and belted out a song or two, accompanied by live music from the band.

“Party in the U.S.A.” by Miley Cyrus, “Valerie” by Amy Winehouse and “Come to My Window” by Melissa Etheridge were a few of the songs chosen.

Jones said she liked the karaoke section of the night the most and said her karaoke song would be “Proud Mary” by Tina Turner or a tune by Beyonce.

“It was my favorite because it was just raw people getting up there and singing – and some of them could even sing pretty well,” she said. “It was a really great thing to sit down and listen to.”