Lakeport >> When it comes to Taste of Lakeport, variety is the name of the game.
With almost 40 vendors, food and wine, plus three different bands, the annual Main Street Association fundraiser takes over Main St. Lakeport tomorrow night for the 19th year running. Beginning at 5 p.m. on Friday four blocks of the downtown area will be cordoned off, with a band playing at either end. Then at 8 p.m., the popular local group, the LC Diamonds, will perform at the center of the excitement for a street dance.
The original idea behind the event was simple: show off what the county’s wine and food scene has to offer. Nearly two decades ago a crowd of around 300 came out to the very first Taste of Lakeport, marking the event as an instant hit. In the years since, Taste of Lakeport has nearly tripled in size. At tomorrow’s event, the Main Street Association expects a turnout of 700 to 800 people.
“It’s a mainstay for the City of Lakeport,” said Main Street Association Executive Director Paula Pepper-Duggan.
For $35, attendees receive a wine glass to carry with them as they roam the street, sip on drinks, munch on appetizers and enjoy the music. Pamphlets will also help people navigate the event, listing the wines and foods being served and where they can be found around the county if people are itching to get their hands on something tasty after the night is over. Some businesses are veterans of the Taste of Lakeport, while for others this is their first year participating.
Although wine and beer will be abundant, those uninterested in the drinks shouldn’t be deterred. Tickets are knocked down to $15 for food tasting only. The hope is that people will discover their new favorite restaurant or wine.
The event not only benefits local eateries and wineries, but the City of Lakeport as a whole. As the single biggest fundraiser for the Main Street Association, all of the money they earn stays right in the Lakeport community.
“The proceeds go in to Main Street which in turn goes to the betterment of the downtown area,” said association President Barbara Breunig.
Plus, the event draws in new faces and, subsequently, more business. People with second homes in Lake County often visit specifically for Taste of Lakeport and they bring their friends along with them. This year, Pepper-Duggan said she sold tickets to a number of Bay Area residents and to some people as far away as Texas. “[Taste of Lakeport] brings commerce to the area and to the businesses on Main St.,” she said. “People get to sample a little bit of Lake County.”
With food and drinks galore, the Taste of Lakeport could never be a dull affair, but each year the Main Street Association likes to change things up. Tomorrow evening will feature a scavenger hunt of sorts. Whoever finds a hidden object will receive a night at the Featherbed Railroad Bed and Breakfast in Nice and a dinner at the Old World Tavern in Lakeport.
The Main Street Association spends all year planning for Taste of Lakeport to make the event the best it can be. In the past it always fell on a Saturday, but this year they opted for a Friday date out of convenience for the wineries, who usually keep their tasting rooms open on Saturdays. Wineries felt a day earlier would be better for business.
“We listen to the participants for any way we can make it better and improve it every year,” said Pepper-Duggan.
In previous years, the sweltering temperatures — sometimes upwards of 100 degrees — acted as something of a downer. Tomorrow, however, the weather should be prefect and the Main Street Association is excited about all the evening has to offer. “It’s just a good get together toward the end of summer, if you will,” said Breunig. “I think this year it’s going to be just delightful.”
Taste of Lakeport is from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m. tomorrow evening. Tickets can be purchased at the event.
Jennifer Gruenke can be reached at 900-2019.
