Taste of Tippecanoe brings local restaurants to festival

By Tom McHenry
Summer Editor

Each year the Taste of Tippecanoe brings out the best food, music and entertainment the Lafayette area can offer.

The Taste of Tippecanoe will be held from 4 p.m. to midnight on June 17 in downtown Lafayette. The festival is held on second, Main, Ferry Street and the pedestrian bridge and will host local food, fireworks, and music.

"This year's Taste will be bigger and better than ever," Chuck Newton, Chairman of the Taste of Tippecanoe, said.

According to Suzie Coles, the executive director of the Tippecanoe Arts Foundation, 60 percent of the funding for the Tippecanoe Arts Foundation comes from the proceeds of the Taste of Tippecanoe festival. Coles said that there are over 700 volunteers working to put on the festival. "The Taste is something that’s always in their hearts," Coles said.

"Of all the things that go on, Taste may be the best of the best," John Corey, president of the Lafayette Savings Bank and major sponsor of the event said.

This year will also feature a fireworks display. Dubbed the "Taste of Fire", the fireworks will be set off accompanied by a musical program. Steve Klink, owner of Wells Yeager Best, said that he has heard the musical arrangements alone, "just the music- it sends chills up my spine."

The Taste of Tippecanoe began in 1982 with only 12 restaurants and one musical stage. This year will be the 19^th Taste of Tippecanoe and will feature food selections from over 30 area restaurants and seven stages with musical acts.

Bands featured this year range in style and genre but will play from the beginning of the festival until it closes at midnight. Music styles range from rock and roll to country and jazz. The bands include local favorites like the Scott Greeson Band, the Clayton Miller Blues Band, and The Tony Zamora Jazz Ensemble. Past festival favorites Bruno's and Don Pablo's will return to this years Taste after being absent last year.

C Ray's restaurant will feature an Indianapolis Colts-themed selection and host Colt players Issac Jones and Chuckie Nworkorie.

This year the festival has expanded its Kid's Taste section to cover more area and more activities. The Kid's Taste will feature a mini-zoo, face paining, and Kindervision.

Another addition to this year's festival is the sponsorship of the Indianapolis-based network WFYI. Klink said that their sponsorship will bring in new groups of attendees from the Indianapolis area thanks to an extended marketing campaign on WFYI.

Citybus will provide free bussing to and from the festival in addition to making their normal routes for free on festival day. Kling said that this addition allows visitors to use the Purdue parking facilities for the festival.

This is not the only Purdue connection for the festival, however. Elliott Hall of Music is providing technical support to each of the musical stages for the festival. "This is an example of a great partnership," Klink said.

Although there is an admission fee to the festival, all food from booths inside is priced for $3 or less. Tickets for adults and youths 13 years or older are $6 and children aged four to 12 are $2.

Tickets may also be purchased in advance from Lafayette Savings Banks, Wells Yeager Bests, Snowbear, the Klein Brat Haus and the Tippecanoe Art Federation. Advance tickets are $4 for adults and $2 for children.

For more information about the Taste of Tippecanoe or the Tippecanoe Arts Federation, call (765) 423-2787.

Taste of Tippecanoe brings local restaurants to festival

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