Hartford Taste, the downtown food festival, will return for its fifth year June 5 to 7 with a new central entertainment hub making its debut.
The three-day event, presented by property and casualty insurer The Hartford, will take place along Pratt and Trumbull streets and feature 32 brick-and-mortar restaurants alongside live performances, chef demonstrations and other programming.
Admission is free, with food and beverages available for purchase through Taste Tickets sold onsite.
New this year is Town Square, hosted by Mohegan Sun Online Casino, which will serve as a central gathering point for live music, comedy, dance, chef demonstrations and interactive programming throughout the weekend.
Since its inception, the festival has drawn more than 100,000 visitors and hosted more than 100 restaurants, which have collectively generated upwards of $500,000 in sales.
Presenting sponsor The Hartford covers booth fees for this year’s 32 participating restaurants — an arrangement intended to maximize the financial benefit for small businesses.
Weekend programming will include cook-offs, salsa and Latin dance, hip-hop and breakdancing, live DJs, brass bands, stand-up comedy and live art. The festival has hosted nearly 100 musical acts and dozens of visual artists over its run.
Proceeds benefit Connecticut Foodshare, the state’s hunger relief organization. With help from co-sponsor Hartford HealthCare, the event has raised more than $100,000 for the food bank since launching under the theme “Building Community One Bite at a Time.”
