Make plans to attend the 2nd Annual Taste of Springfield event coming to you on Saturday, October 4, 2008 in the heart of downtown Springfield. This event will be BIGGER and BETTER than 2007 as we double the size of our event, to include MORE restaurants, MORE cooking events and add MORE live music!

Brought to you by Banta Foods this food, art and music festival will take place on Park Central Square and continue down South Avenue to Elm Street. Admission is FREE and the gates will open at noon with food sampling from 12:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. with live music lasting until 6 p.m. Food tickets are sold in sheets of 10 for 10$!

This event is all about everything that is great about Springfield - fine food, great music and amazing art. Local restaurants have been invited to submit signature or original recipes to compete for a people's choice award called the "Best of the Fest" for best appetizer, best entree, best dessert and best booth presentation.

Participating restaurants:
Avanzare Italian Dining
Bailey's American Grille
Big Whiskey's Bar & Grill,
Bruno's Italian Restaurant
Canton Inn
Coesters
Cooks Kettle Restaurant
Coyote Adobe Cafe
Fedora's Social House
Fire & Ice
Gem of India
Grandaddy's Bar-be-Que
Maria's Mexican Restaurant
Mille's Cafe
Mudhouse
Parlor 88
Planet Smoothie
South Avenue Pizza
Tonic Ultralounge
Trolley's Bar & Grill

Schedule of Events:
Hoover Music Performance Stage (McDaniel Street)
Noon - Nigel & the Ghost
1:15 p.m. - Tuck & Abney
2:30 p.m. - Eddie Gumucio and the Electrics
4:00 p.m. - M-Dock

Volvo/Sertoma Stage (South Avenue & Elm Street)
Noon - Shallow Howl
2:00 p.m. - The Collective
3:30 p.m. - The Revenge
6:00 p.m. - The Seed
8:00 p.m. - The Sociables

Hoover Music Family Stage (Park Central Square)
Noon - Nick, Ruell & Ned the Band
2:00 p.m. - Springfield Regional Opera
2:30 p.m. - Musicians from the Springfield Symphony

Sertoma Beer & Wine Garden (South Avenue & Pershing)
4:00 p.m. - DJ Gentlemen's Dynasty

Cooking Events/Schedule:
Metro Builder Supply Demonstration (South Avenue & Pershing)
Noon - Dagwood Dash Sandwich Building Competition
Big Momma's Coffee House & Espresso Bar, Mama Jean's Natural Market, Planet Sub, Dagwood's Sandwich Shoppe, Mudhouse.
12:15 p.m. - Willie Lyles - Grilling
1:00 p.m. Iron Chef I - Big Whiskey's Bar & Grille vs Mille's Cafe
2:15 p.m. Showcase Chef - Tony Garcia of Avanzare Italian Restaurant
3:00 p.m. Iron Chef II - Cook's Kettle Restaurant vs Bailey's American Grille

Taste of Springfield Cookbook Sales & Book Signing
(McDaniel & South Avenue)
Noon - 4:00 Contributing Chef's will be signing the first Taste of Springfield Cookbook. Cookbooks will be sold for $10.

"Takes the Cake" (Park Central Branch Library)
12:30 - 3:30 Professional bakers decorate cakes live while you watch

Firehouse Face Off (South Avenue and Pershing)
Firehouse #3 - Phil Noah vs Firehouse #2 Glen Kimberlin

Willie Lyles Outdoor Grilling Demonstration (Walnut & South Avenue) Noon - 4:00 p.m.

Winners from judged cooking events and "Best of Fest" winners will be announced at 5 pm at the Hoover Music Company Performance Stage located on McDaniel Street.

Bring out the whole family for Empire Bank / Ozarks Mom's Kids Korner! Multiple inflatable’s, crafts, activities, fun foods and the Hoover Music Family Stage featuring Nick, Ruell and Ned the Band.

Downtown artists and retailers will also be featured including Springfield Hot Glass, Fashioned by Jaye, Global Fayre and Ampersand.

Volunteers are needed. For more information, please contact Kathryn at 417-831-6200 or via email at Kathryn.

Additional sponsors for this event include Trader's Printing, Springfield-Greene County Library, Metro-Builder Supply, Hoffman Pest Control,Camping World, Sertoma Club, Springfield News-Leader, Midwest Family Broadcasting, Price Cutter, Penmac Personnel Services, Empire Bank, Hoover Music, Ozam Productions and Graceline Cabinets.