How to go
What: Taste of Blue Ash
When: 6 p.m. to midnight Friday, noon to 11 p.m. Saturday, noon to 9 p.m. Sunday.
Where: Blue Ash’s Towne Square at the intersection of Kenwood and Cooper roads
Info: (513) 745-8500
By Kareem Elgazzar
Staff Writer
BLUE ASH — Incorporating festival programming, music and food from across the region, the 26th annual Taste of Blue Ash kicks off Friday at 6 p.m.
Through Sunday, 24 restaurants from surrounding areas of the Hamilton County suburb will showcase the best they have to offer, including City Barbecue, Parkers Blue Ash Tavern and Grill and Servatii Pastry Shop, according to Tiphanie Crane, Blue Ash’s division of recreation supervisor.
In addition to the food vendors, Cincinnati Catering will handle beverages and the city will showcase 25 local businesses, Crane said.
“A little bit of food, little bit of drinks and socializing,” Crane said. “Through the years, it’s remained a very family-friendly event, even down to the musicians we bring in.”
Thirteen local bands and musicians will perform spanning the three-day event, with REO Speedwagon performing on the main stage at 9 p.m. Saturday. Pat Benatar will perform at 9 p.m. Friday, and Credence Clearwater Revisited sings at 7:30 p.m. Sunday.
Approximately 10,000 to 12,000 people visit the event each day, Crane said. There will also be an alcohol-free, family fun area with rides and games for children. Ride tickets will be $1.25 and $10 all-day ride passes are available.
“Carnival rides and bounce houses (for the children), and that kind of sets us apart from other taste events,” Crane said.
And for those who want to avoid the hassle of scouring for a parking spot, shuttle busses will take people to Blue Ash’s Towne Square at the corner of Cooper and Kenwood roads from four locations throughout the city: Raymond Walters College at 9555 Plainfield Road; Ursuline Academy at 5535 Pfeiffer Road; Pfeiffer Woods at 5151 Pfeiffer Road; and Maple Dale Elementary at 6100 Hagewa Drive, according to Crane.
Contact this reporter at (513) 755-5112 or kelgazzar@coxohio.com.