Cost: $250 ($500 VIP package); buy tickets here

Organizer: Common Threads

What to expect: A chef-heavy celebration of the food, drinks and culture of countries around the world at Soldier Field.

Why to go: It's like the best day ever at Whole Foods; sample stations everywhere you turn! This year's celebrity guests: Tyler Florence, Ingrid Hoffmann, Nigella Lawson, Gail Simmons and Ming Tsai.

Additional info: Participants include festival founder Art Smith (Table Fifty-Two), who will be celebrating his 50th birthday in conjunction with the event, Jimmy Bannos Sr. (Heaven on Seven), Graham Elliot Bowles (Graham Elliot), David Burke and Rick Gresh (Primehouse), Christophe David (NoMi), Gale Gand (TRU), Stephanie Izard (Girl & The Goat), Radhika Desai (Top Chef Season Five), Koren Grieveson (Avec), Chris Nugent (Les Nomades)and others.

VIPs get access to Art's Birthday Lounge, a pre-event cocktail reception (5-6 p.m.) and an invitation to the exclusive Chef After-Party at The James Hotel (9-11 p.m.).

Centerstage Reviewer: Ben Rubenstein