The annual Taste of Charlotte festival returns to kick off summertime on Friday, June 7.
This year’s event will offer over 100 samples of food plus live entertainment, plenty of fun for the kids, cooking demonstrations, shopping opportunities, and more.
How does it work? Anyone can access the event area (on Tryon Street from Stonewall to 5th Street), and tokens may be purchased to dig into all the bites, order drinks, or participate in children’s activities. Fifteen coins costs $20, while seven coins run for $10.
So, what will you be eating? Here are just a few of many food vendors (coin cost is shown in parentheses):
Stoke - Sticky Pork Toast (4), Donut Holes (3), Mom’s Deviled Eggs (2)
Queen City Q – Smoked Meatloaf Slider (4), Pulled Pork Slider (3), Mac ‘n Cheese (2)
RiRa – Frueben (4), Guinness BBQ Wings (3), Chili Lime Shrimp (3)
Hawker’s Asian Street Fare – Seoul Hot Chicken Bao (3), Beef Bulgogi Skewer (3), Po Po Lo’s Curry Chicken (3)
Flipside Restaurant & Café – Shrimp & Grits (4), Pimento Cheeseburger Slider (3), Pimento Cheese & Pretzel Bites (3)
Essex – Braised Short Rib Slider (4), Butter Chicken (3), Chicken Shawarma Pita (3)
204 North – Hoppin’ John (2), Chickpea Salad (2), Sweet Corn Hush Puppies (3)
Cantina 1511 – El Pastor Tacos (4), Guacamole with Chips (3), Mexican Corn on the Cob (2)
A panel of judges will sample food from all vendors on Friday to determine “Best of the Taste.” Seven categories exist, including Best New Bite and Best Dessert, and each winner receives a silver platter to display all weekend.
Bringing the kids? Plan accordingly for these activities: Jupiter Jump (2 coins), Double Dare Obstacle Course (2), Barrels of Fun (3), Loop O Plane (5), Rock Climbing Wall (5), Springfree Trampoline (1), Tubs of Fun (3), Oceanic Slide (3), Camel Slide (2), Inflatable Funhouse (3), and Olympic Obstacle Challenge (3). Or instead of paying by the activity, wristbands are available for $20 each for kids who plan to “play all day” (or get a wristband for $15 on Sunday only).
Don’t miss all the food and fun in Uptown Charlotte! Get full event details on Taste of Charlotte’s website.
