Taste Of Chicago 2012 Headliners Announced: Chaka Khan, Death Cab For Cutie And More

PHOTOS: Taste Of Chicago 2012 Headliners Announced

The City of Chicago announced Thursday who will headline their newly-revamped Taste, but don't get too excited--scoring a seat to one of these shows will cost you this year.

The five-day festival will be anchored with a performance by local star Jennifer Hudson on Wednesday, July 11, Death Cab for Cutie on Thursday, July 12, Chaka Khan -- with opener Raphael Saadiq -- on Saturday, July 14 and Dierks Bentley on Sunday, July 15, according to the city website.

Friday's headliner has not yet been announced, nor have all of the opening acts. A kids show is also scheduled for Friday afternoon, but performers have not yet been named.

While musical performances at the city's famous food festival have been free in previous years, the city council voted Wednesday to charge a $25 fee for tickets to the performances in Millennium Park's Petrillo bandshell.

Ticket prices aren't the only change visitors will see at the Taste this year. Amid complaints about the festival's high cost and the spike in crime that usually accompanies the heavily-attended event, the city decided to halve the summer event, which will only run for five days this year.

While the festival consistently brings huge waves of tourists into Chicago, attendance has been declining, with last summer's event bringing 11 percent fewer visitors than the previous year, and more than a quarter less than in 2006 and 2007. In a cost-cutting measure, the city also opted out of its usual July 3 fireworks show in Grant Park, which used to coincide with the festival.

Check out some of the current Taste of Chicago headliners:

Before You Go

Jennifer Hudson

Taste of Chicago 2012 Headliners

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