I finally made it to Grant Park! I've driven by this park plenty of times and have even attempted…read moreto attend an event or two here, but parking always managed to derail my plans. Well, I finally figured out the secret: GET THERE EARLY!
I arrived early for the Vegan Festival, and there was plenty of street parking. There's also parking near the zoo if you don't mind walking over to the festivities. Now that I know the layout and what to expect, I'll definitely be more prepared the next time I come. And I have to say, Grant Park is beautiful! I can see myself coming back even when there isn't an event happening.
The Vegan Festival itself was a lot of fun. We checked out different vegan vendors, made bracelets, picked up some hair products, and of course, I had to get some food. I grabbed a vegan platter and a delicious lemonade, and my daughter decided to go her own route and got fish and shrimp. She said it was delicious!
There were also some non-vegan food options at the festival. I personally didn't have an issue with it, although I know some people definitely did. One vegan vendor even said, "I'll give you $100 if you eat 10 chicken wings." And I'm like... WHAT?!
It was a hot day. There weren't a ton of places to sit, so I would recommend bringing your own folding chair or something comfortable to sit on. The pool was open, the splash pad was open, and the courts were being used, so there was plenty going on beyond the festival.
Overall, I had a great time. I enjoyed discovering Grant Park, meeting vendors, doing some crafts, eating good food, and just enjoying the day. I'll definitely be back to the park.