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Crowds nibble at Taste of New Tampa's 'Sweet 16th'

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By KENNETH KNIGHT | The Tampa Tribune

Published: April 20, 2009

TAMPA - Throngs of people got a chance to sample a taste of New Tampa Sunday.

From grilled chicken to chocolate-covered strawberries to cotton candy, more than 100 restaurants and businesses participated in the New Tampa Community Council's 16th year return of its annual, premier food festival.

Today, Taste of New Tampa officials begin tallying gate receipts to get a crowd count to determine how this year's attendance compared to previous years.

No estimates were available Sunday, said Mary Ann Yaney, chairwoman of the council's special events committee. Based on the number of participating vendors and exhibitors, Taste was highly successful.

"This is the best year ever," Yaney said.

The community's signature festival drew 38 restaurants and 75 businesses offering food samples and giveaways, she said.

This year's festival was held Sunday afternoon on the Liberty Middle/Freedom High schools campus on Commerce Park Boulevard in Tampa Palms. Restaurants and businesses set up booths and displays in tents peppering the Liberty Middle staff parking lot.

Cars began pouring into parking lots at Freedom High and nearby business centers by the time the festival gates opened at 1 p.m.

A huge crowd filled the festival grounds by 2 p.m. Patrons strolled through the maze of tents, sampling entrees, salads and desserts as well as checking out various demonstrations and services.

Many vendors agreed they appreciated the additional space. Although the festival was held in the same general location, last year the tents were set up on a smaller site at New Tampa Community Park, adjacent to the schools.

"The space was a lot smaller,'' said Todd Byrne, manager of the Cold Stone Creamery at 17519 Preserve Walk Lane just north of the Interstate 75 and Bruce B. Downs Boulevard interchange. "This year water and electricity [were] easier to get to."

Wendy Oliva said she and her three children had a terrific time. If she had known the festival was so much fun, they would have attended a lot more.

"This is my first time here," said Oliva, a five-year resident of New Tampa's Live Oak Preserve. "It's been wonderful. In years past, I would find out after the fact."

The Taste also marked the launch of the New Tampa Chamber of Commerce. The community council, which plans to dissolve and become the chamber this month, signed up chamber members during the three-hour fest.

Festival proceeds will benefit parent-teacher-student groups at area public schools.

Reporter Kenneth Knight can be reached at (813) 865-4842.

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