Taste of Atlanta announces its 2019 lineup, including a new concert

Restaurant Industry News,
Source: Marietta Daily Journal

Taste of Atlanta has announced its lineup of events for the 2019 festivities, which will take place Oct. 18 through 20 at Historic Fourth Ward Park.

The city’s 18th annual award-winning food, craft beer, wine and spirits festival showcases the local restaurant and will feature more than 100 restaurants as well as on-stage cooking demos, cooking classes and new this year, Food Districts, a more expansive VIP Experience and a Saturday night concert.

Bringing together food lovers and chefs from neighborhoods across Atlanta, the event welcomes attendees of all ages and offers something for everyone. The lineup is as follows:
 
Oct. 18: Opening Night Party – This Friday kickoff event, hosted by chef Nick Leahy of Aix and Tin Tin, will bring together a roster of well-regarded local chefs who focus on sourcing ingredients locally and cooking seasonally. From 7:30 to 11 p.m., participating restaurants, including Kimball House, Tiny Lous, Bellina Alimentari, KR Steakbar, Double Zero and dozens more, will serve tastings alongside wine, beer and cocktails. Plus, the celebration will feature live music from Moontower, and a portion of the evening’s proceeds will support Georgia Grown's restaurant partnership program.

Oct. 19 and 20: Main Tasting Events – Bringing together chefs from neighborhoods across Atlanta and representing dozens of cuisines, Taste of Atlanta will serve as a destination to try bites from over 100 restaurants all in one place. Plus, this year’s festival will feature Food Districts, including Tailgating, Buford Highway, The Battery, Sunday Brunch and more.

Oct. 19 and 20: Cooking Classes & Demos – Kitchen Workshop offers free, hands-on cooking classes for home cooks led by Atlanta chefs. Festival attendees will learn to cook a variety of cuisines, from Southern to Italian to vegan. Attendees will also get an inside view into the Atlanta culinary world at Chef’s Table and Home Plate Stages, where chefs will demonstrate how to prepare mouthwatering dishes and provide tastings of their creations.

Oct. 19: Saturday Night Concert – For the first time, Taste of Atlanta will continue into the evening on Saturday of festival weekend with a concert from 7 to 11 p.m. While the band remains a surprise until later this summer, attendees can expect singalong, light rock hits from a favorite local band. Guests will be able to bring their own chairs and blankets to enjoy tunes on the lawn, and local food trucks will be selling bites for purchase alongside drinks.

Prior to the event, ticket holders will receive wristbands equipped with radio-frequency identification (RFID) technology, making Taste of Atlanta a cashless festival. The wristbands are pre-loaded with Taste Points which can be used for drink and merchandise purchases as well as food tastings ranging from one to three points each.

​General admission ticket holders will receive 10 Taste Points, and additional points can be purchased for $1 each online or at Taste Point Banks located throughout the festival. Wristbands track tastes sampled and provide attendees with a post-event tasting list, serving as a customized roundup of restaurant recommendations for future dining out.

VIP Experience provides access to an all-inclusive festival area with tastings from around a dozen select restaurants and pours from craft beer, wine and cocktail makers. VIP ticket holders can access the general admission area of the festival and will also receive a post-event tasting list from restaurants enjoyed in all areas of the festival.

Tickets will go on sale in mid-July for Friday’s Opening Night Party and Saturday and Sunday’s main tasting events. Later this summer, tickets will be available for the Saturday Night Concert. Ticket prices begin at $25, and guests are encouraged to buy early.

For more information, visit www.tasteofatlanta.com.