Come one, come all and join your fellow citizens at the Peoria Heights Chamber of Commerce’s annual Taste of the Heights event from 5 to 9 p.m. this coming Thursday, Sept. 17.
More than 20 food and drink vendors and multiple bands will be on hand along several blocks of Prospect Road in downtown Peoria Heights, with the road closed to vehicular traffic. Free parking is available at Village Hall, at Trefzger’s and in the lot behind Sloane’s, as well as in the Pabst lot for $5.
In alphabetical order, the vendors include 309 Refreshery, Alwan & Sons Meat Co. Bust’d Brewing, Casa Agave, Clink Bar, Frank’s Italian Beef, Hand Craft’d, Hearth, Hick’ry Stick, Jim’s Bistro, Joe’s Original Italian & Martini Bar, Olio & Vino, Oliver’s in the Heights, Prohibition 309, Publik House, Segreto Di Stefania, Slow Hand Craft BBQ, That Bald Guy, The Daily Scoop and Yeni’s Palarte.
On the menu is everything from Chicken Chimichurri Kabob at Hearth to Creamy BBQ Burnt End Brisket Sausage Pasta at Joe’s to Dill Chicken Pizza at Oliver’s, with so many choices in between that you can invite indigestion just thinking about them. Meanwhile, Casa Agave is pouring flavored frozen margaritas, Oliver’s has its Painkiller Cocktail and you can never go wrong at Olio & Vino with its Apple Pie Moonshine Slushie and Caramel Apple Sangria. There are multiple non-alcoholic options, as well.
Attendees will have the opportunity to vote for best of show on the Peoria Heights mobile app, said Chamber Board President Steven Cook.
All food and drink purchases must be made with tokens, which are cash only. If you’d like to skip the lines, pre-purchase is available at the following locations: Ipava State Bank, Jake Davenport’s State Farm office, Yeni’s Palarte, Hearth, Pour Bros., Café Santa Rosa, Daily Scoop, Oliver’s, Heights Bank, Fired Up, Bust’d Brewing, Slow Hand, 33 Room, Beauti & Soul, and Peoria Heights Community Bank.
This year’s Taste is a feast for the eyes and ears, as well.
On the Main Stage at Prospect and Kelly, Devin C. Williams, Traveling Bluesman will be performing at 5 p.m., followed by Dexter O’Neal & The Funk Yard from 6:30 to 9 p.m. At the Duryea Road Stage, Shawn “Smitty” Smith will be playing from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. A huge thanks to Pour Bros. Craft Taproom for arranging the live music.
Meanwhile, the Heights Silent Auction is already live. You can start the bidding here (https://www.zeffy.com/.../2026-taste-of-the-heights). Trefzger’s also is sponsoring a free cookie decorating station, and the Kid Zone will again be open from 6 to 8 p.m.
This year’s Taste promises to be bigger and better than ever. Don’t miss it!