Title
2024 Taste of Orland Park Format
History
The Taste of Orland Park has been held at the Village Center for the last 20 years. The Taste's primary features include Orland Park restaurants, entertainment, sponsor booths, non-for-profit community organizations and Village youth groups. Over the years, various elements of the Taste have been added including bingo, a car show, inter-village softball game, a community stage, and other small attractions (i.e. trivia contest, back lot, bags competitions, battle of the bands).
In 2024, the Taste of Orland Park will move to the new Centennial Park West venue. In doing so, staff seek to refocus the Taste building upon its core strengths. Additionally, staff are working to reduce the cost of labor and supplies, while identifying opportunities to increase revenue.
Proposed elements and changes to the 2024 Taste of Orland Park include:
*Reduced hours on Saturday and Sunday
- Friday: 5 p.m. - 11 p.m.
- Saturday: 1 p.m. - 11 p.m. to 3 p.m. - 11 p.m.
- Sunday: 1 p.m. - 9 p.m. to 3 p.m. - 9 p.m.
*due to low attendance
Key Taste Features
- 1 stage, with bands all three days.
-National level headliner artists
-Overall increase in total number of bands
- CSHS Marching Band: Friday (Time TBD)
- Veterans Tribute: Saturday 6:30 p.m. (:30 earlier)
- Orland Park Taste Restaurants and Food Trucks
- Sponsor Booths
- Community and Youth Groups
- Kids Activities Saturday and Sunday, 3 p.m. - 7 p.m.
Proposed Features to Eliminate
- *Bingo
- Car Show
- 2nd Stage (live band Karaoke, Battle of the Bands)
- Trivia
- Back lot / Bags Tournament
*No indoor space; tent is cost prohibitive
VIP Parking
- West Metra lot - VIP, ADA and vendor parking
-VIP Parking $10/space
-ADA and vendor parking n/c
-730 total spaces
- Free parking
-East Metra lot - 670 spaces
-Centennial Park - 1,044 spaces
Fewer Entry Gates / Admissions Protocols
- Reduction from three to two gates
- Metal Detectors / Bag Searches
- No outside food / beverages (1 unopened / sealed water bottle)
The change in hours, reduction from three to two gates, and the elimination of peripheral Taste activities will reduce the overall number of staff and cost of supplies needed to host the Taste. Additionally, VIP parking will provide a new revenue source to off-set event expenses.
Estimated savings resulting from the elimination of proposed elements total: $12,655 as detailed below:
-Car Show: $4,500
-2nd Stage: $3,000
-Trivia: $200
-Back Lot / Bags Tournament: $200
-Reduced Number of Gates & Hours: $3,147
-Civic Center Staffing: $408
-Civic Center Cleaning: $1,200
VIP estimated parking revenue: $17,220
Additionally, staff are evaluating:
- restaurant participation costs
- menu pricing in support of restaurants
- the cost to vend alcoholic beverages
- the amount earned per cup for the sale of alcoholic beverages
- the elimination of providing pop / water to restaurants to vend
- overall event staffing
The Recreation Advisory Board unanimously approved and recommended the change in format to the 2024 Taste of Orland Park to the Village Board.
Financial Impact
There is $338,196 budgeted for the 2024 Taste.
Recommended Action/Motion
I move to approve the proposed format of the 2024 Taste of Orland Park, focusing on bands, Orland Park restaurants, sponsorships, community and youth group involvement, and children's activities on Saturday and Sunday; and eliminating peripheral activities including bingo, the car show, second stage, trivia and the back lot.