Kopp

NEWBERRY — This year’s Taste of Newberry event in Memorial Park will have several new features when it opens at 5 p.m. Friday, including a new theme — “From brisket to crab cakes, discover the flavor of Newberry” — that organizers think sums up the whole event.

The event ends at 8 p.m., just in time for the curtain to go up on “9-5,” the Newberry Community Players annual summer musical.

Mary Alex Kopp, tourism and events coordinator for the city of Newberry, said they have gotten almost all the downtown restaurants involved this year.

From fried corn dogs to bacon-wrapped filet mignon, the Taste of Newberry will have it all.

“There is a wide demographic of people that live in Newberry and we’ll work to celebrate that for the evening,” Kopp said. “It will be a fun mixed melting pot of people in this event.”

The idea is for folks to sample foods from different restaurants, have a nice time talking to each other and just come together as a community.

“It’s the first year it’s really been open outside of Newberry and been open to Prosperity and Whitmire to be a part of it,” Kopp said. “We’re hoping that this year will be kind of like a taste-test for those people and it will continue to grow year after year with this festival really being about Newberry County as a whole.”

Kopp said tents will be set up similar to Pork in the Park to give the event a more festive feel. Attendees will have a chance to sample food, wine and beer from Newberry County locations.

“It’s not just a city-focused event,” Kopp said. “It’s focused on the county as a whole.”

Kopp said they have been working with Dr. Barry McGinnis on a jazz combo from Newberry College to play throughout the event.

Vendors will include R&W’s Fishhouse, Grille on Main, Steelhorse Smokehouse, Fusion, Flying Pie, Tiny’s Fish and Wings, Bill and Fran’s, Main Street Bakery, Figaro and Figaro Market, Half Full, Enoree River Winery and Carolina Cake Creations.

The Palms will showcase a soon-to-open meat and seafood market. Proverbs 31 Winery, which is coming to Newberry this summer, and Silver Spoon Tearoom, which is opening in the back of The Gallery, also will be present.

Since beer and wine will be available, Kopp said wristbands will be used for those 21 and over. Those who plan to drink need to bring their ID, she said.

Kopp said the ticket system has been eliminated and cash will be the currency to have. Some vendors will have card readers and some won’t. Kopp said businesses have been encouraged to do what they think will work best for them.

Visit www.tasteofnewberry.com for more information on the event.