Chicago's Best Local Food Event Is This Weekend ... And It's Free

By Anthony Todd in Food on Mar 14, 2017 3:21PM

The exhibit floor of the Good Food Festival.

The biggest, best local food event of the year is finally here. The Good Food Festival combines vendors, demos, workshops, kids events and tons and tons of farmers and vendors for a seriously fun event. Best of all? This year, it's free.

While the public really only pays attention to the Saturday Festival portion of the event, it's actually a three day long series of conferences, trade meet-ups, policy seminars and meetings with potential financiers. But most of that isn't really of interest to the general public. The big event for the everyday food lover is on Saturday, March 18 starting at 10 a.m. The UIC forum will be filled with over 150 different exhibitors showing off their products and services.

This year, Organic Valley is sponsoring the Good Food Commons, which is filled wth workshops on everything from beekeeping to goats to kombucha to knife skills. Rick Bayless (Frontera), Rob Levitt (Butcher & Larder), Paula Haney (Hoosier Mama), Aaron Lirette (GreenRiver) and Josh Kulp and Christine Cikowski (Honey Butter Fried Chicken) will be hosting chef demos.

All you need to do for free admission is register. Go here to get on the list and have a great time on Saturday.