How the Main Event became the Main & Taste

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Back before I joined the Arlington Heights Chamber in 2004, the Main Event was already a beloved tradition—a one-day Friday block party tied to the Arlington Million at the racetrack. When I got involved, I saw the way it brought our community together. It was a massive effort for just one day, with tents up and down the streets, but the restaurants kept asking, “Can we add a second day?” We considered it over for years, and in 2010, we took a chance. With a sponsor’s help, we launched the Taste of Arlington Heights, merging it with the Main Event to create the Main and Taste. Support was thin at first, but we believed in it and we made it work.

Over time, those two separate days became one seamless two-day event. It wasn’t without hiccups, but after 20 years of sweat and grit—setting up tents at dawn, tearing them down at 3 a.m., and grabbing breakfast with the crew to keep costs low for our businesses—it’s become a cornerstone of Arlington Heights. When the racetrack closed after COVID, we renamed it Harmony Fest, keeping the Taste alive as its heart. For me, it’s personal. I’m the guy behind the scenes, wrangling details, making sure the event is safe, and the food is flowing. You’ll see me on the streets setting up, on stage welcoming sponsors and bands, and late at night packing it all away, fueled by a passion for seeing residents and visitors connect with our local businesses.

This event isn’t just about great food or music—it’s about linking our community to the businesses that keep our property taxes down, drawing folks from beyond Arlington Heights, and showing what collaboration can do. I’ve learned that being a hands-on leader matters. You don’t see what needs fixing or who deserves thanks unless you’re in the thick of it. I wouldn’t have it any other way.

As mayor, I’ll bring that hands-on passion and insight to the village board. I want to expand events like Harmony Fest to Uptown and South Town, not just downtown, so every corner of our village shines. I’m a leader who listens, adapts, and thanks the team that makes it happen. Vote for me, and let’s keep growing a community we all cherish.