AMHERST — A competitive eating contest involving foods from local restaurants highlights this year’s four-day Taste of Amherst on the Town Common.
The 23rd annual food festival, which begins Thursday, will feature cuisine from more than 20 Amherst area restaurants, musical acts and activities for children.
And Amherst Area Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Donald Courtemanche is promising that the first day won’t be rained out, as it was last year. “It will be great weather,” he said.
Organized by the Chamber and presented by Atkins Farms Country Market, one of the new events is the Chowdown Challenge, a two-minute eating contest with a finale Sunday at 2:30 p.m.
“We will have a challenge on every day of the Taste,” said Tammy-Lynn Chace, the membership and events manager for the Chamber.
Winners, she said, will receive gift certificates to local restaurants.
Among new restaurants at the event will be Oriental Flavors, Pita Pockets, the All Things Local Cooperative Market and Shallot Thai Cuisine.
Returning restaurants include 30Boltwood, Baku’s African Restaurant, Ginger Garden and Paradise of India.
The event is again aiming to be green, with vendors serving food on compostable plates and dinnerware and using other recyclable items.
John Thibbitts, chairman of the Taste’s organizing committee, said in a statement that this has been an ongoing objective. “The Taste has been moving to reduce waste over the past several years, and is building on last year’s event, in which it reduced 60 percent of its solid waste.” Thibbitts said.
Amend Organics will be at the event to assist with composting efforts.
Children’s activities will include a presentation by the Forest Park Zoo, bounce houses provided by MercyHOUSE, horse-drawn carriage rides by Muddy Brook Farms and story times through Reader-to-Reader of Amherst.
A beer and wine tent for adults will be open the first two nights, as well as all day Saturday. On Thursday evening, people will have the chance to meet Courtemanche, who began his tenure at the Chamber this spring.
Throughout the weekend cooking demonstrations will take place. Among those presenting their signature items will be traveling chef Bill Collins, chefs from local farms Kitchen Garden and Simple Gifts Farm, Jerry Jolly of The Pub and Walter Pacheco of Antonio’s Pizza.
Music at the 93.9 The River Soundstage will feature Banish Misfortune, The Snaz, Primate Fiasco, June Millington & Friends and other local and regional acts.
Hours for the Taste of Amherst are Thursday from 5 to 9 p.m., Friday from 5 to 10 p.m, Saturday from noon to 10 p.m. and Sunday from noon to 4 p.m.