Festival goers taste the start of summer in Des Plaines

Festival goers at the Taste of Des Plaines sampled food and sipped beverages to kick off the weekend Friday night.

The annual event near the downtown Metra station included eats from eight local businesses, including American Wildburger and some of the eateries inside Rivers Casino.

The D62s, a band of former and current Des Plaines Elementary District 62 teachers and employees, took the music stage at the start of the fest. WGN Radio's Justin Kaufmann also hosted a live broadcast of "The Download" radio show.

The two-day fest concludes Saturday with more food and music, as well as a classic car show at noon, and children's activities including a climbing wall and petting zoo. For more information, visit tasteofdesplaines.com.