Party on the steps of city hall

Chants of “two bottles of wine” echoed through the air as people took a break from eating to sing along with Reverend Peyton’s Big Damn Band. Despite the 90-degree heat, spirits were high as attendees mingled, ate and listened to local music.

The 27th annual Taste of Bloomington on Saturday featured some of Bloomington’s top local restaurants, breweries and wineries.

“We had such a great time last year, we decided to come back,” said Billie Freeman, waitress and cook for Sugar Daddy’s Cakes Catering & Cafe.

The traditional crowd favorite of the festival is barbecued pork, so Sugar Daddy’s decided to sell grilled pork chops this year to be different, Freeman said.

While American food was served, including pizza, hamburgers, ice cream and boneless chicken, there was a large variety of ethnic cuisine, such as gyros, gazpacho shots, tamales, rigatoni a la vodka and chicken quarma.

“This year, my favorite food was the shrimp etouffee,” Bloomington resident Sheryl Richard said.

While people gathered around food booths, bands were preparing to entertain the crowds into the night.     

Guitarist Jason Payton of Reverend Peyton’s Big Damn Band said although he is a Bloomington native and has played with the band for four years, it was his and the band’s first time performing at the festival.

“It’s a good way to get some local fans because there are a lot of people out here,” Peyton said.  

This year, Taste of Bloomington collaborated with Blooming Branch Green Events to help make the festival environmentally friendly. To limit the environmental impact, recycling bins were placed around the grounds, and volunteers picked up trash. The City of Bloomington Utilities booth Free handed out free water at to anyone who correctly answered a water trivia question.

“We are trying to educate people about water sustainability and the advantages of using local water systems instead of buying bottled water,” Water Quality Coordinator Rachel Atz said.

In addition to raising awareness about environmental issues, the event provided a fun way for restaurants to get people to taste their food. Bob Crowley, owner of Dats Cajun and Creole Cafe, has brought his food to Taste of Bloomington for five years. He said coming to Taste of Bloomington allows a different group of people to experience his restaurant’s food. 

“Since we are located on Fourth Street, we are really well-known in the college community, but not the town,” Crowley said. “Coming to Taste of Bloomington gives people who live here a chance to check it out.”

Promoted in Central Indiana as well as Cincinnati and Louisville, Taste of Bloomington brings in substantial economic revenue for the city. Rob DeCleene, director of tourism and promotions at Bloomington Indiana Convention and Visitors Bureau, worked with the promotions committee to bring people to Bloomington for this event.

All last week the bureau ran commercials in Cincinnati during the evening news to try to promote the event, DeCleene said.

During the event, IU students from a tourism and marketing class walked around asking people to take surveys to see the economic impact this event has.  
“Thirty-four percent of dollars spent by visitors (to Bloomington) is spent on food and beverages,” said Mike McAfee, executive director of the Bloomington Convention and Visitors Bureau.

Along with raising money for the city, Taste of Bloomington allowed people to spend a day in the sun enjoying the food and music.

“It’s a big community party on the steps of city hall,” DeCleene said.