JOLIET — Why was Joliet Mayor Terry D’Arcy smiling everywhere he went on Friday night as he greeted hundreds of people at the Taste of Joliet? It was the crowd. D’Arcy was thrilled with the first day of turnout for the Taste of Joliet. D’Arcy assured Joliet Patch that Friday night’s crowd reached at 25,000 people inside Memorial Stadium.

For the 2023 Friday night concert featuring Train, the Taste of Joliet drew an estimated 22,000 people but drew at least 55,000 spectators over the entire three-day period.

But with the world-famous Goo Goo Dolls taking center stage, people from all over, including neighboring states, traveled to Joliet’s Memorial Stadium to be a part of something special.

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Joliet Patch’s editor spent eight hours filming videos and capturing photos of Taste of Joliet on Friday. You can rewatch the Facebook Live videos on the Joliet Patch Facebook page.

Here’s a collection of the entire day’s photos, a great day for Joliet as the Taste of Joliet and Joliet Park District director Brad Staab lived up to the city’s motto, The City of Champions.

Find out what's happening in Jolietwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

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