Want to sample an array of foods from local restaurants and not spend tons of money?
Downtown Kennesaw will be converted into a food court from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Saturday for the Taste of Kennesaw.
Nearly 30 restaurants will set up shop near the train Depot. Admission is free. Food samples will be sold for 50 cents to $3.
“People can have a great day downtown and not break the bank,” said Michael Everhart, committee chair for the event.
Mayor Mark Mathews said the event has attracted a good mix of restaurants from the area.
“Hopefully I can find something good and unique that I’ve never had before,” he said.
Two entertainment stages will have continuous performances, including the Kennesaw Mountain Cloggers, Country Classic Cloggers, Little General Clogg ers, Great Gig Dance, ATA Karate, ETO Demo team, Praise Him with Dance, Dancers Studio, Prodigy Performing Arts, Pil Sung Do and an acoustic set from Scott Thompson. The stages will be in front of the Depot, and nearby, at Main Street and Cherokee Street.
The city’s final concert of the summer, featuring the Great American Rock & Roll Revival with Elvis impersonator Damon Hendrix, and the rock ‘n’ roll band “Butch & the Buckheads,” will begin at 8 p.m. at the Depot stage.
Free parking is available throughout downtown, at Adams Park, First Baptist Church of Kennesaw and behind the Southern Museum. Proceeds from sponsorships will benefit four local charities - Shop with a Mustang at Kennesaw Mountain High School; Shop with a Warrior at North Cobb High School; MUST Ministries; and Kennesaw Police Department’s Jerry Worthan Community Christmas Fund. Everhart said his group hopes to raise $2,000 for each of the charities.
The list of restaurants includes Barbecue Street, Big Shanty Smokehouse, Buffalo Wild Wings, Capers on Main, Classic Dots, Dave and Buster’s, Domino’s, Hooters of Kennesaw, Joe’ and Glo’s Hawaiian Shaved Ice, Johnny’s Pizza, Marlow’s Tavern, McAlister’s Deli, McGinnis Concessions, Papa Johns, Rib Ranch BBQ, Sweet Tomatoes, T’s Concessions, Taco Mac, Texas Roadhouse, The Melting Pot, The Old Mill Restaurant, The Varsity, Trackside Grill, U.S. Play, WOW Wingery & Cafe and Zeiglers BBQ.
Participating restaurants will face professional judges in five categories, committee member Debbie Underkoffler said - best entree, best food presentation, best decorated tent, best dessert and best all-around.
Woodstock artist Patricia Caldwell, who teaches at the Kennesaw community center, has created clay platters and jugs for the winners, Underkoffler said.
Everhart said they expected 20,000 to 25,000 people to stop by Kennesaw on Saturday.
&q uot;If the weather holds off and (Hurricane) Hanna doesn’t do anything weird to us, we should have a pretty good turnout,” he said.
The Kennesaw Business Association is sponsoring the event this year. The group has previously worked with the city to produce the Big Shanty Festival.
“This is the city and the KBA trying to bring another great family event to our hometown,” he said. “This is a great way to spend a Saturday.”
Join us September 18th through 28th for the Carl Black 2008 GMC Canyon Giveaway. Enjoy free concerts, North Georgia State Fair Beauty Pageant, the Great James H Drew Exposition, Carnival Midway, The National Diving Dog Tour, Frisco Brothers Petting Zoo, Oscar the Robot, Atlanta Jounral Consitution Local Entertainment State, Award-winnng Non-commercial Exhibits, Kachunga and the Alligator show, High Dive Show, Robinson’s Pig Paddling Porkers, Brian Ruth “Master of the Chainsaw”, Keith King Bike Stunt show and much more.
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