Food Truck Thursdays returns June 6 to the City of Highland Park's Ravinia District. The 2024 season will run through September 26, and will take place from 4:30 PM to dusk along Dean Avenue between Roger Williams and St. Johns Avenues and at Jens Jensen Park across from the Ravinia Metra Station.
"Food Truck Thursdays are a summer staple in the Ravinia District,” said Carolyn Hersch, Business Development Manager at the City of Highland Park. “The Ravinia District comes alive with great music, delicious food, and a family-friendly atmosphere that truly encapsulates what makes Highland Park a special place to be."
Alfresco diners will experience a unique and varied selection of food and drink offerings from more than a dozen rotating food trucks along Dean Avenue every Thursday evening throughout the season. Guests can also enjoy beer and wine selections from Ravinia District restaurants Abigail's American Bistro and Ravinia Brewing Company.
Attendees are encouraged to bring blankets and chairs or dine at one of the many picnic benches in Jens Jensen Park while enjoying live music (weather permitting) from 4:30-8:30 PM (June-August) and 4:30-8 PM (September). The eclectic musical lineup includes a robust variety of genres as well as three special theme nights for all-ages fun! During each of the three themed nights, guests are encouraged to arrive in family-friendly costume and participate in interactive kid-friendly activities. Sing along to the music of legendary performers during Diva & Soul Night on June 20, bring your dancing shoes to Noche Latina on July 18, and get ready to laissez les bons temps rouler at New Orleans Mardi Gras Night on August 15.
“To accommodate all of the families coming out early, we’ll be kicking off every concert at 4:30 sharp with live music, including special kid-centric performances peppered throughout the summer,” says Noah Plotkin, music manager with Highland Park-based Life Rhythms, Inc., which coordinates music for Food Truck Thursdays on behalf of the City of Highland Park. Opening acts and family programming will run from 4:30-5:45 PM with the headliner playing from 6-8:30 PM June-August and 6-8 PM in September.
June 6
4:30 PM - 5:45 PM: Despina Pafralides, Bluegrass Duo
6 PM - 8:30 PM: La Tosca Italian Mambo Ensemble, Italian & French Gypsy Jazz
June 13
4:30 PM - 5:45 PM: Gandy Gumbo, Americana
6 PM - 8:30 PM: Sara Jean Steven’s Band, Americana
June 20 (Diva & Soul Night)
4:30 PM - 5:45 PM: Pierce Crask, Americana Blues
6 PM - 8:30 PM: RJ Mitchell’s Diva Soul, curated ensemble of wedding entertainers
June 27
4:30 PM - 5:45 PM: Wincanton, Local Americana Duo
6 PM - 8:30 PM: Jared Rabin Band, Folk and Bluegrass
July 11
4:30 PM - 5:45 PM: Ryan Herrick & The Heretics, Folk
6 PM - 8:30 PM: Nasty Snacks, Future Funk
July 18 (Noche Latina)
4:30 PM - 5:45 PM: The Chicago Jazz Dads, Latin Jazz
6 PM - 8:30 PM: Roy McGrath’s Latin Quintet, Salsa and Latin
July 25
4:30 PM -5:45 PM: The Second Chances, Folk Rock Trio
6 PM - 8:30 PM: Saturday June Band, Rock and Roll
August 1
4:30 PM - 5:45 PM: James Conway, Traditional Irish and Bluegrass
6 PM - 8:30 PM: Chris Neal & Good Trouble, Six-piece Funk / Rock band
August 8
4:30 PM - 5:45 PM: Jeanie B!, Children’s Entertainer
6 PM - 8:30 PM: Chicken Bone, Funk Rock
August 15 (New Orleans Mardi Gras Night)
4:30 PM - 5:45 PM: Ben Tatar & the Tatar Tots, Children’s Entertainer
6 PM - 8:30 PM: Extra Crispy Brass Band, New Orleans Style Brass Band
August 22
4:30 PM - 5:45 PM: Highland Park Players, Theatrical Performance
6 PM - 8:30 PM: Radio Free Honduras, Latin Rock
August 29
4:30 PM - 5:45 PM: DJ The Graduate, Popular Hits
6:00 PM - 8:30 PM: The Drastics, Reggae
September 5
5 PM – 7 PM: The DB’s, Bluegrass, Blues and American Roots Music
September 12
5 PM – 7 PM: Basement Band, Classic Rock
September 19
5 PM – 7 PM: Dr. Mark & The Sutures, Beatles Cover Band
September 26
5 PM – 7 PM: Tom Holland & The Shuffle Kings, Blues
FOOD TRUCK THURSDAYS WITH MUSIC IN THE PARK 2022 BAND LINEUP!
We are proud to announce the 2022 lineup for this seasons FOOD TRUCK THURSDAYS WITH MUSIC IN PARK! Thank you to the Highland Park Community Foundation & The City of Highland Park for co-sponsoring the music this year!! Thank you to Chicago Sound & backline for providing professional sound and tech for our season 2022!
Jens Jensen Park
540 Roger Williams Ave
Highland Park, IL. 60035
Every Thursday starting June 2nd - September 8th 2022
Food trucks open at 4:00pm
Music begins at 5:00pm
FREE
JUNE 2ND
5:00pm - 5:45pm OPENING CEREMONY
6:00pm - 8:30pm Bowmanville (Hot club jazz from the 1930s Paris mingled with the influences born of Chicago’s global crossroads)
www.bowmanvilleswing.com
JUNE 9TH
5:00pm - 6:00pm Ian Leith ( Timeless Favorites & Future Classics)
www.ianleith.bandcamp.com
6:15pm - 8:30pm Wild Earp (Jumping Rockabilly with Spirited Bluegrass)
https://www.wildearp.com
JUNE 16TH
5:00pm - 6:00pm James Conway ( Folk, Blues & Celtic)
http://www.jamesconway.net
6:15pm - 8:30pm Radio Free Honduras( Traditional Honduran music with Rhumbas, Los Lobos inspired rock, and south of the border soul)
www.radiofreehonduras.com
JUNE 23RD
5:00pm - 6:00pm House Call Music LTD Presents a
HPHS Student Jazz Combo
https://housecallmusic.com
6:15pm - 8:30pm Spare Parts ( Funky Jazz Trio)
www.sparepartsmusic.com
JUNE 30TH ( Beatles Night)
5:00pm - 8:30pm DR. MARK & THE SUTURES ( Beatles Cover Band)
JULY 7TH
5:00pm - 6:00pm Albie Powers ( Folk )
6:15pm - 8:30pm HEIWA BANDO ( Local Folk Rock’n Roll)
JULY 14TH
5:00pm - 6:00pm Desert Birds Trio (Gypsy Swing)
https://www.facebook.com/Desert-Birds-Trio-107802724866818
6:15pm - 8:30pm Nasty Snacks ( 8 Piece Soulful Funk Band)
www.nastysnacks.com
JULY 21ST
5:00pm - 6:00pm Pierce Crask ( Blues & Roots Music)
www.piercecrask.com
6:15pm - 8:30pm Jared Rabin ( Americana Music)
www.jaredrabin.com
JULY 28TH ( New Orleans Night )
5:00pm - 6:00pm Ben Tatar & THE TATAR TOTS ( Kids Show)
http://ben-tatar.squarespace.com
6:15pm - 8:30pm Extra Crispy Brass Band ( New Orleans Style Brass Band)
https://www.extracrispybrassband.com
AUGUST 4TH
5:00pm - 6:00pm Gerald Field & FRIENDS ( Local Folk Irish Music)
https://www.fieldviolinworkshop.com
6:15pm - 8:30pm LOUIE IN THE MIDDLE ( Local Classic Rock’n Roll)
https://www.facebook.com/LouieInTheMiddle
AUGUST 11TH
5:00pm - 6:00pm Jeanie B! ( Kids Show)
https://www.jeaniebmusic.com
6:15pm - 8:30pm THE BASEMENT BAND ( Local Classic Rock’n Roll)
AUGUST 18TH ( Disco Night )
5:00pm - 8:30pm Verzatile Band ( Disco)
https://www.verzatileband.coM
AUGUST 25TH
5:00pm - 6:00pm TJ Travelbee ( Folk Rock & Blues)
http://www.tjtravelbee.com
6:00pm - 8:30pm Jon LaDeau ( Americana Rock’n Roll)
https://www.jonladeau.com
SEPTEMBER 1ST
5:00pm - 6:00pm Mojo 49 ( Local Southern Blues & New Orleans Grooves)
6:15pm - 8:30pm Railheart (Plays music of The Grateful Dead)
www.railheart.com
SEPTEMBER 8TH
5:00pm - 6:00pm Plotkin & Rabin DUO ( Local Acoustic Folk Rock)
6:15pm - 8:30pm THE Dave Specter BAND Featuring Brother John Kattke (Chicago Blues Legends)
https://www.davespecter.com
Congratulations to fellow musician and friend Ben Tatar on his article in The Daily North Shore Weekend Edition!
Congratulations to fellow musician and friend Ben Tatar on his article in The Daily North Shore Weekend Edition! Ben is a fantastic musician and music educator! His band has graced our stages at Food Truck Thursdays over the years and will be coming back summer of 2022! Check out the whole article HERE
