Lewisburg, WV (WVDN) – Carnegie Hall’s Taste Of Our Towns (TOOT) will take over downtown Lewisburg for the 38th time on Saturday, October 12, from 12 to 8 p.m. Year after year thousands of food lovers attend to get a taste of the culinary delights made in the Greenbrier Valley and surrounding area. This year’s fundraiser will not only feature great food but will also introduce some new twists.
The biggest change this year is that patrons will not need tokens or tickets. Vendors will set their own prices and payment options and will keep 100% of their sales. “Eliminating tickets and tokens has given our vendors greater flexibility and will keep festival attendees from spending time out of their day waiting in a ticket booth line,” states Carnegie Hall Development Associate Kit Lindsey. “People are excited about no tickets or tokens!”
Also new is the time of the event. This year TOOT will begin at 12 p.m. (noon) and conclude at 4 p.m.
This year will also include a TOOT Afterparty from 4 – 8 p.m. on Church Street. The Davisson Brothers Band will take the stage on Church Street at 6 p.m., preceded by a local opener beginning at 5 p.m. Food trucks will be set up until 8 p.m.
TOOT will also see an expansion of the Kids’ Zone, which will move to North Court Street. Activities will include a hayride, bounce slide, face painting, duck pond, needle felting, mural painting, marionette shows, and more. The bounce slide will require a $5 wrist band.
Carnegie Hall Teaching Artist will integrate with the food vendors. Exhibits and demonstrations will be spread throughout downtown Lewisburg. Participating artists will include Jessie Thornton, Kelsie Tyson, Peggy Owens, Sean O’Connell, Kathy Talley, West Virginia Woodturners Association, Theresa Filzen, Greenbrier Artists, Jennifer Spencer, Debbie Rapp, Thomas Ruggiero, Luke Davis, Connie Gottshall, Amie Durrman, Lee Street Studios, Karen Leland, Sandra Schmocker, and Linda Zimmer.
This year will see more food trucks and pop-ups. Those vendors will include Kitchen 304, The Twist, Fairway Fork, New River Community & Technical College, Smooth Ambler Spirits, Sixpence Pizza, Deez Eatz, and The Twisted Chef.
There will also be a few location updates. The Greenbrier Resort and The Sporting Club will return to South Court Street. Carnegie Hall’s Information Booth will be in front of Experience Greenbrier Valley.
The 2024 Taste of Our Town (TOOT) Title Sponsor is The Schoolhouse Hotel. The 2024 TOOT Beer Garden Sponsor is The American Beer Company.
For more information contact Carnegie Hall Development Manager Kit LIndsey at 304-645-7917 or email devassociate@carnegiehallwv.org.
