State Fair’s Taste of Tennessee expanded to two nights
Tennessee’s craft beer and spirits industries are booming and this year’s Taste of Tennessee Festival will reflect that growth with growth of its own.
Opening weekend at the Tennessee State Fair will provide again this year an opportunity for fairgoers to taste the best of Tennessee except this year the special tasting events will include much more than a variety of locally brewed ales and lagers.
Introduced at last year’s Fair as a one night event, the Taste of Tennessee was received with such success that organizers made the decision this year to extend the special exhibition to a whole weekend and to include far more examples of what the Volunteer state has to offer.
According to Cary Ann Fuller, who heads the Taste of Tennessee for the State Fair, this year’s event will again include a Craft Brewers Fest on Opening night (Sept. 5) hosted by Kay Bob’s Grill and Ale, and an Artisan Distillers Fest on Saturday night (Sept. 6) presented by the Artisan on 18th. She said the weekend extravaganza will also include the Music City Cookoff, a World Food Championship Regional Qualifier event, as well as the Tenne-Flea Market, the Inaugural Southern Gentlemen Facial Hair Competition and a TN Better Beer Garden. BeardForce Films will be at each of the three events with an exclusive screening of the award-winning short film, “Straight Up: Tennessee Whiskey.”
Fuller said some 35 craft brewers from all across Tennessee will be offering more than 100 different beers for those attending on Friday, while on Saturday 25 artisan distillers will provide a tasting of Tennessee whiskey, gin, rum, rye, vodka and moonshine. “Nearly every brewer and distiller in the state will participate over the course of the weekend.” Local music by the Listening Room Cafe will accompany both tasting events as well as an assortment of Tennessee’s finest Food Trucks, including Memphis’ Fresh Gulf Seafood and several Nashville favorites.
She explained that the Music City Cookoff, presented by Goo Goo Clusters, is a multi-category live cooking competition designed to bring cooks and chefs from across the country looking to win cash prizes and qualify to compete in the World Food Championships in Las Vegas this November. The WFC premiered as a television series in July on the FYI network. The event at the State Fair is expected to be taped and shown as a part of the second season programming next year. Competition registration is now open and categories include dessert, seafood and cheese!
The Tenne-Flea Market she said will provide an opportunity for fairgoers to purchase a variety of handmade goods and artisan products and designs from Tennessee vendors including food products, craft items, artwork, Tennessee authors and more. Vendor applications can me made on the website.
“These events, no doubt, will add to an amazing opening weekend for the State Fair and provide opportunities to taste and meet not only Tennessee’s heritage but also its future,” Fuller said.
The cost of admission to each tasting event, which opens each night at 7 pm, includes admission to the State Fair, a souvenir tasting glass, samples of either craft beers or artisan spirits and a donation to the Tennessee Craft Brewers or Distillers Guilds. Admission for designated drivers will be available. General admission tickets for each event are $45, and special SIP tickets are available for $65. SIP tickets allow guests to enter one hour earlier than the public with the opportunity to sample special offerings while visiting with the makers.
Admission to the Tenne-Flea Market, Beard and Mustache competition, and World Food Competition event on Saturday is free with an admission ticket to the State Fair. Gates for these events open at 10 am.
“Taste of Tennessee is all Tennessee, all the time. No other festival gives you all that Tennessee has to offer in one venue,” Fuller said.
Tickets for events go on sale July 25. For more information about these events, participating brewers and distillers and the Tennessee State Fair, visit www.tasteofTN.com.
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