Anyone in the mood for some good local food is invited to the Taste of Clarkston on Saturday, September 27.
The event, entering its sixth year in Clarkston, will take place from 5 to 9 p.m. on the corner of Washington and Main Street.
“This is a fun family event. It is a common experience which really makes a small town community,” Clarkston Area Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Penny Shanks said. “It is also a great opportunity to showcase the restaurants in Clarkston.”
A total of 17 restaurants are set to participate in the event which is up from 15 last year. The restaurants include Clarkston Cafe, Rudy’s Quality Market, Mr. B’s Roadhouse, Bullfrogs, Giacomo’s Ristorante, Liberty Banquet & Grill, Castello Di Bologna, Village Bakeshop, Clarkston Union, Gregg’s Gourmet Cafe, Outback Steakhouse, The Restaurant at Shepherd’s Hollow, Heaven Scent Catering, Costco, Creekside Catering, Max & Erma’s and Pontiac Coffee Break.
“There is a nice mix and a wide variety. We have everything from very elegant food to corn dogs, which I am sure the kids will love,” Shanks said.
Children’s games, sponsored by the Independence Parks and Recreation Department, will be part of the evening festivities. In addition there will be a DJ playing music starting at 4 p.m. and the band “Cheers” hitting the stage at 7 p.m.
The Chamber is estimating about 4,000 individuals attending, much along the same number as last year. They have reorganized the ticket lines to make the event run smoother and reduce line congestion.
“We were surprised by how big the event got. We made some changes to make the food more easily accessible for people,” Shanks said.
The event closes down Washington Street.
“It is a very cool event. When we first started people were just beginning to realize what a great culinary community Clarkston is. We are a destination for great restaurants,” Shanks said.
The Taste of Clarkston is run in conjunction with Fall Fun Daze. The Parks and Recreation event features the 16th Annual Clarkston Fall Fun Daze Run. The event includes three different races: a one mile run, a 5K run and a 10 K run.
All the restaurants donate the food so after overhead costs, all profits go to the Chamber and the Parks and Recreation to run community programs.
“It is a great event that showcases the historical village. The businesses stay open later and they receive a lot of foot traffic,” Shanks said.
Since Washington Street will be closed to traffic, attendees are encouraged to park at Depot Park lots, Independence Township Hall, Clarkston Elementary, Clarkston Middle School and Clarkston Community Education.