Annual Taste of Downtown returns Saturday

For its 23rd year, the Taste of Downtown hopes to not only bring people out to support the Carson City Advocates to End Domestic Violence, but to also get people out and support the downtown revitalization project.

The Taste of Downtown is the Advocates annual fundraiser for the shelter in order to buy supplies and maintenance that keeps the shelter going. Every year, the Taste is held in downtown Carson City, along Curry Street that features dozens of local restaurants for patrons to try their food.

“Carson City has really vested in this event because it started with trying to get people downtown,” said Advocates Director Lisa Lee. “The idea was to find a way to get people downtown, get restaurants some business and keep the shelter doors open.”

Patrons will have the option to go to the different booths and restaurants to try samples of the unique cuisines that each has to offer.

“There is a little bit of everything for everyone, from Thai food to Mexican food to barbecue,” said organizer Traci Trenoweth.

In addition to the food, there will be half a dozen music stages, each featuring a different style of music including country, MoTown, acoustic and an 80s and 90s cover band.

“That is what sets us apart from other events, because we have so much going on,” Lee said. “(For instance) if you don’t like the music at one stage then go down two blocks and you have something different.”

The Advocates specifically make sure that people are out and about enjoying themselves instead of just sitting around at a dinner, like most fundraisers.

“They get to stroll and take the time to really enjoy the event,” said organizer Terri Farnworth. “You see people you know who maybe you don’t normally get to see.”

Though working around the construction downtown should be a turn off for the organizers, Lee said the revitalization is actually a positive for them and for Carson residents.

“We see the construction as a plus,” Lee said. “People have been avoiding downtown and so this can get them down there and see what is going on, get them out and walking around to see the vision of what is going on.

“It really brings the community together to socialize with the community and residents.”

The shelter is even embracing the construction with the event, incorporating the construction tape into their logo this year.

Another change to the usual Taste of Downtown tradition is the event date. Typically, it is held in June, but because EpicRides and other events were scheduled throughout June, the shelter decided to push back their date.

“We didn’t want to intrude on anyone else’s fundraisers,” Lee said. “But it is going to be a beautiful weekend and no one will want to stay inside at home.”

And the organizers said that it doesn’t matter if you have been before, each year is a brand new event.

“The Taste is ever changing,” Trenoweth said. “There are always different restaurants, different foods. The Taste this year is different from the Taste last year.

The Taste of Downtown will be held July 23 from 5:30 to 9 p.m., with the bands going until 10 p.m. Tickets are $40 before the event and can be purchased online at tasteofdowntowncarson.com or at Classy Seconds, The Chamber of Commerce and the Purple Avocado. Tickets can also be purchased the day of the event for $45 at the information booth on Proctor Street, starting at 11 a.m.

There will also be trollies and busses going to and from the Carson Mall for additional parking and tasting options.