Get your taste buds ready, because the Taste of Okotoks and Artisan Market is hitting the streets this weekend.
Featuring delicious foods and live music, the annual event is from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. on July 20.
One of the most anticipated summer events, culinary creators, artisans, and entertainers will line the streets of Olde Towne Okotoks for the annual celebration of food.
“We’re just hoping for some great weather and just inviting everyone to come on down and get a Taste of Okotoks, and just enjoy the festival atmosphere,” said Janette Messer, community programs and events manager. “We will also have entertainment at the plaza, which adds to that festival sort of environment.”
Entertainment for the event includes Zumba led by Tamara Boivin, Chinook Country Line Dancers, Silence In B'tween, and three of the buskers from BuskersFest.
Sample—or gorge yourself—on the food, treats, and drinks from local restaurants, all the while enjoying live music, artisan vendors, boutique shopping, and fun activities for the whole family.
Food and drink samples from 18 vendors—such as Mr. Spuds, Ubuntu Pies, Rebel Bean Café, In Cahoots Bar and Grill, 94 Take the Cake, to name only a few—will cost between one and seven tickets, with sampler tickets selling for $1 each.
“The food ranges from anything from pizzas, to fish and chips, to salads, to café type of stuff, to ice cream,” said Messer. “There’s a little bit of something for everyone.”
To make an already great event even better, the Town has incorporated the Artisan Market.
“What we’re doing this year that will be different is we’re going to spread the restaurants and the artisan vendors throughout the event zone, so it’s just not to one place with the restaurants,” she said.
For those too hungry to wait for samples the day of the event, rest assured and buy your sampler tickets ahead of time starting July 14 at the Recreation Centre and Okotoks Art Gallery. Both locations accept cash, debit, and credit.
For day-of ticket purchases, stop by the Town’s ticket booth near the Downtown Plaza for cash only purchases, or the Okotoks Art Gallery for cash, debit and credit sales.
To accommodate the food and entertainment in the heart of downtown Okotoks, there will be a partial street closure from McRae Street to North Railway Street during the event.
“The event zone is from Veterans Way down to Lineham Ave, depending on how much of the event zone we have to close,” said Messer. “We do try to be conscious of that event zone area, making sure that we don’t close more than we need.”
To find out more about Taste of Okotoks and Artisan Market, go to Okotoks.ca.
