July 11-12, 5 p.m. to 12 a.m. Friday, 12 p.m. to 12 a.m. Saturday, Fifth and Washington streets, Downtown Springfield
Reward your taste buds with delectable cuisine when favorite downtown restaurants serve up tasty dishes of ethnic, eclectic and classic cuisine for Taste of Downtown.
Consider just some of the items on the mouthwatering menu: maple bacon on a stick, duck fat potato chips with raspberry mustard, Lincoln’s Electric Blue Lemonade, specialty pizzas, mojo roasted pork horseshoe, mango chili glaze encrusted salmon, gyros, ribeye sandwiches, sliders, sweet potato fries, cinnamon apple wraps and chocolate covered pretzels. Which will you select to sample? Which will you vote for to win the People’s Choice Award for favorite food at the Taste? Admission is $10, which includes four food and beverage tickets. Children 12 and under get in free. Food and beverage tickets are only $1.
In addition to the great food selection, there is a variety of live music sure to please every taste. Get your toes tapping and kick up your heels with this great lineup: Kari Wattles starts the year’s musical performances on Friday, July 11, with the “Star Spangled Banner” at 5:15 p.m., followed by Trumpeter and Trompeter: The Jazz Franks at 5:30 p.m., Jonnie Concaroo Band at 7 p.m., Screamin’ Vatos at 8:30 p.m. and the evening’s headliner, Giving Tree Band, will take the stage at 10 p.m.
Catch Scott Wattles starting out Saturday at 3:45 p.m. with the national anthem, Don Smith Big Band at 4 p.m., Kapitol Sound at 5:30 p.m., then Suns at 7 p.m., followed by headliner Jonathon Edwards at 8:30 p.m. Closing the night will be Station at 10 p.m.
If you really want to make it a complete weekend, consider a special downtown overnight package that includes admission and food and beverage tickets to the Taste of Downtown with your hotel room booking. For more information on the festival, visit www.downtownspringfield.org or phone Downtown Springfield, Inc., at 544-1723.