COLUMBIA, S.C. (June 8, 2018) – On Saturday, August 11th, 2018, Sustainable Midlands will be hosting the 9th Annual Tasty Tomato Festival. The Midlands community is invited to come together to celebrate local food and the champion of the garden: the heirloom tomato! The annual festival is a celebration of locally grown food, the people who grow it, the restaurants who serve it, the markets that sell it, and the people who eat it. Named by Southern Living as one of the “Best in the South” things to do, this event is a must.
FESTIVAL DETAILS:
Saturday, August 11th, 2018 // 1pm – 7pm
City Roots // 1005 Airport Boulevard, Columbia, S.C.
ADMISSION: COME GET TASTY WITH US!
$10 pre-sale: currently available online and will be available in select pre-sale outlets in the coming weeks
$15 day of: available at the gate
Special Offer: Participants in the “Homegrown Tomato Contest” may purchase tickets at half off during contest. (Contest details below)
Children 12 and under are free
Pets are not allowed at City Roots
HIGHLIGHTS:
PalmettoPride “Tiny Tomatoes” Children Area:
Patrons are invited to bring the whole family to this family-friendly event. Tiny Tomatoes will feature amusements, face painting, and balloon twisting. New for 2018, Tasty Tomato will feature “Kids Mindful Yoga” by Fit Columbia
Live Music:
Patrons will be able to enjoy the musical styles of several bands on two stages all day. Lineup details will be available in the coming weeks.
Food and Beverage Offerings:
A variety of craft beers, wine and water will be available for purchase. Event will feature a Bloody Mary Bar by Jake’s on Devine. A variety of local food offerings will be available for purchase.
GET INVOLVED:
Calling All Gardeners! Homegrown Tomato Contest
Tomato growers are encouraged to enter their tomatoes for a chance to win the “Homegrown Tomato Contest”. Anyone can enter and a panel of judges will select winners for eight categories: Best Big Red, Best Big Yellow, Best Purple, Best Unusual Tomato (striped, rare variety, etc.), Best Small Red, Best Small Other, Best Tomato Grown in a Public Garden (includes schools and communities), Best Tomato Grown by a Child. Winners will be announced on stage during the festival. Note, there is no limit on the number of entries. More contest details will be available in the coming weeks (including rules, regulations, location, date and prizes).
Vendor Applications:
Applications for food, arts & crafts, commercial, and civic vendors are available on the Tasty Tomato Festival website.
Volunteer:
Anyone interested in volunteering should e-mail Sustainable Midlands Executive Director, Jason Craig at Sustainablemidlands@gmail.com
Sponsors:
If interested in sponsoring Tasty Tomato Festival, please e-mail Sustainable Midlands Executive Director, Jason Craig at Sustainablemidlands@gmail.com.
SPONSORS:
The Tasty Tomato Festival would not be possible without the generous support from: KW Beverage of Columbia, PalmettoPride, Jake's on Devine, Rosewood Market and Deli, Fit Columbia, the City of Columbia, Experience Columbia SC, and Richland County.
ABOUT SUSTAINABLE MIDLANDS:
The mission of Sustainable Midlands is to encourage responsible growth, ensure access to local food and establish a healthy environment for all Midlands communities. Our focus areas include: new urbanism land use, clean water, clean air and support for our local economy.
To purchase tickets or find out more about The Tasty Tomato Festival, please visit www.TastyTomatoFestival.com.
