I went to a Chase food event in Chicago — here’s what you need to know about the special cardholder benefits

While I may be biased as a local, Chicago in the summer is one of the coolest cities in the world. Part of that is due to the number of events on any given weekend, including Chase Sapphire Event.

One such notable event was The Infatuation. Eeeeeatscon Chicago, presented by Chase Sapphire.

Imagine a music festival combined with a food festival, with local and national restaurants as the main characters, along with live music performances and workshops.

I attended The Infatuation’s Eeeeeatscon Chicago event, presented by Chase Sapphire, July 13-14. Here’s what the event was like and how you can find similar events near you.

General admission for both days is $30.37. via EventbriteAlthough tickets for July 13 sold out before the event.

Children 6 and under (and service dogs) can attend for free. Tickets do not include food and drinks, which range from $4 to $11 per dish, depending on the vendor. Alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks are available at three bars (two outside, one inside) for $5 to $16.

This two-day food festival is held four times a year: every February in Miami, June in Los Angeles, July in Chicago, and in the fall in New York. Early access available Chase Sapphire Reserve® And Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card holder.

Cardholders also have access to the exclusive Sapphire Reserve Lounge for Reserve cardholders only available at events like this, including US Open Tennis Championship takes place later this month. Last year’s US Open lounge, known as the Chase Lounge and TerraceThere is an outdoor terrace for tennis viewing, a Chase ATM offering souvenirs, phone charging stations and a photo booth for tennis fans of all ages.

An ongoing privilege for Reserve users is access to Paris OlympicsAttendees will have access to private lounges, dining events, athlete meet-and-greets and other amenities throughout the 2024 Games.

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This summer, Reserve cardholders can also purchase VIP tickets to music festivals across the country, including Lollapalooza, Outside Lands, and Ocean’s Calling. They’ll also have access to the Sapphire Reserve Lounge with one guest.

For this special event, my favorite part was the Sapphire Reserve Lounge for Chase Sapphire Reserve Cardholders also earn 3 points for every dollar spent at the festival.

Maybe it was because it was my first bite, but my favorite meal of the festival was at Sapphire Reserve Lounge, which featured a variety of appetizers from Diego, a Mexican craft cocktail bar in Chicago’s West Town neighborhood.

Of all the dishes I tried, the tuna tostada, corn and tomato tostado and ceviche suenos were the best at this event.

The lounge offers complimentary snacks and five cocktails for purchase, including the Sapphire Signature Cocktail—a vodka or gin mix with blueberries, golden raspberries, lemon, ginger, oregano, five-spice powder, bee pollen and pearl powder. Reserve card holders will receive two complimentary drink vouchers to use in the lounge.

Chase cardholders who purchase presale tickets receive a 50% discount off the purchase of individual tickets, plus applicable taxes and fees. Chase Sapphire Reserve and Chase Sapphire Preferred Card Pass holders also get early entry to the festival at 11 a.m. CDT — an hour earlier than general admission.

Reserve cardholders can also purchase tickets to cardholder-exclusive events, including cocktail-making classes hosted by Apotheke, a secret cocktail-themed bar in New York City’s NoMad neighborhood.

On both days, there will be a Sapphire cardholder promotion in the lounge from 4pm to 4:30pm. The promotion includes a complimentary espresso martini from Menotti’s Coffee Shop on Saturday.

Other cardholder events include Sapphire Hour, where Preferred and Reserved cardholders can enjoy free food from a select vendor. Sapphire House on Saturdays features Tribecca’s Sandwich Shop, a local Avondale joint that offers free food from 2:30 to 3:30 p.m. My boyfriend grabbed a team share and enjoyed a Reuben sandwich from TriBecca.

Sunday’s Sapphire House is at Tacos Los Cholos in Los Angeles. There’s also a Chase Ink Market Chicago-themed store with Funky Chunky cookies, candles, and Spice House tea for purchase. Shoppers receive an Ink-themed bag.

In the blistering heat of the day, the lounge feels like an air-conditioned safe haven, with two restrooms, phone chargers and plenty of seating to view the main stage.

Select Chase Cardespecially Chase Sapphire Reserve and Chase Sapphire Preferred Cardgives cardholders access to special events nationwide throughout the year. Events include Eeeeeatscon and Sapphire Presents, a concert series hosted by Experience Chase.

When considering the annual fees of these cards ($550 and $95, respectively), keep in mind cardholder perks like these. They easily add to the overall value of each card, as event access is limited specifically to the cardholder.

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