Taste of Summer event on May 31

Jeff Helsdon, Editor

It’s time for local residents to prepare their taste buds, bouncing shoes, shopping boots, and fun sensors while getting the groove on for Taste of Summer.

The annual Tillsonburg District Memorial Hospital Foundation fundraiser, planned for May 31, 12 p.m. to 8 p.m., in Memorial Park, offers something for everyone. This includes nine food trucks, vendor villages, a beer tent with local musicians, and family entertainment. Admission is by donation.

The family entertainment includes a dog trick show, petting zoo, Little Ray’s Nature Ninja, Captain Corbin the musician, a train ride around the park and inflatable slides.

The entertainment line-up is being handled by Shawn Winters. He lined up Elle DeClark, Fred Hodgson, Carter Nevill, Sydney Barnaby, Chase Beres, Josh Doyle and Broadtree.

Taste of Summer attracted more than 2,000 people last year. Gerry Dearing, executive director of the Tillsonburg District Hospital Foundation, said the majority of people who attend are families with children. He added adults enjoy being in the beer tent, music and vendor village.

The food line-up will include burgers to briskets, tacos to jerked chicken, ice cream, fish and chips, popcorn and funnel cake. The vendors will have crafts, clothing, and items for pets and gardens. Dearing said there’s something for everyone.

“That’s the whole purpose is to make this an all-inclusive family event,” he said. “We want to make the community aware of the hospital and it’s fundraising need.”

There will also be a hospital tent with information about the facility’s equipment needs.