Buffalo, N.Y. (WBEN) - Starting this Saturday and continuing on Sunday, the annual Taste of Buffalo returns in full force to Delaware Avenue and Niagara Square in Downtown Buffalo.
"We're happy to be back to, I guess, back to normal, no restrictions" said Taste of Buffalo Chair Luke Baecker during a recent appearance on WBEN. "We were happy to be able to plan a full event, get as many restaurants as possible. Our event is here to showcase these great restaurants and great wineries we have here in Western New York and throughout New York State. It's for our love of food, and we want to just support all these great restaurants. They've had a horrendous two-plus years, and our event's here to showcase these great restaurants and show Western New York what they've got."
After two years away from normal operations due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the nation's largest two-day food festival returns to Downtown Buffalo with the help of its presenting sponsor, Tops Friendly Markets.
This year marks the 39th annual event, which kicks off Saturday from 11 a.m. ET to 9 p.m. ET, and will also run Sunday from 11 a.m. ET to 7 p.m. ET. Once again, the festival will run along Delaware Avenue starting at Chippewa Street and continuing into Niagara Square.
A total of 40 restaurants and food trucks will be featured at the 2022 Taste of Buffalo, along with five New York State wineries. The event will also feature plenty of live music, and much more for families and others to enjoy.
As for restaurants taking part in this year's event, they're also looking forward to the return of the "hustle and bustle" after two years of either being virtual or having a more limited crowd.
"It is extra crazy, but it's part of the reason why we love the festival," said Hillary Collura, owner of Sidelines on Delaware Avenue on WBEN. "There are so many people that visit our tent that they really don't even know where we are. We say, 'Come on in right behind us, have a beer, get another bite to eat inside, cool off because the air's definitely on.' It gives people a break from walking through the festival, kind of refreshes them, and gets them back out there. It's super busy the whole weekend, it's a great vibe. The staff is excited for it, I'm excited for it. I'm happy it's back to normal. It's not the new normal, this is the old normal. The way it should be."
With more and more events returning to their regularly scheduled programming like before the COVID-19 pandemic, restaurants and other business in Downtown Buffalo can feel the sense of people yearning to get back out and socialize.
"People want to be out, people want to go to events. They've missed it," Collura said with Brian Mazurowski. "Concerts and sporting events that are Downtown, people want to find things to do. They want to get out of the house. They're willing to be out. It's a great feeling, because it is busy. ... You see that people do want to come out. I do think that this festival is going to be huge. People are ready to be out in public and get back to the way it was."
This year's event is free for everyone, but pre-sale food ticket vouchers for the Taste of Buffalo are currently available for purchase at registers of participating Tops Markets. Vouchers are available in $10 and $60 increments, and are redeemable at the festival ticket tents. Each $60 voucher comes with four free, non-alcoholic beverages.
So what are some of the other different or unique features relating to the Taste of Buffalo this year?
"One of the cool things we have this year is we have our digital event guide on TasteOfBuffalo.com," Baecker said. "You can go out right now, you can click on the 'Festival Guide' link. ... Check out the event guide. You can see what Sidelines is serving up, you can see what all these great 40 restaurants and five wineries are serving up, so you can kind of get an idea of what you want. We've got the festival guide map on there. I know a lot of people like to look at that beforehand and plan out their course of attack when they come down to the event."
Another feature that is available at this year's Taste of Buffalo will be the option for people to scan a QR code to support the Tops "5/14 Survivors Fund" to benefit the victims and those directly affected by the racially motivated mass shooting at the Tops Friendly Market on Jefferson Avenue nearly eight weeks ago.
In addition, Baecker says this year's festival will be a chance for people to come together at a community tent in Niagara Square and share a meal with their neighbors.
"We're asking everyone to just come down, share a meal with your neighbor, strike up a conversation with somebody you've never met before because we're Buffalo. We're the 'City of Good Neighbors'. That's what we do," Baecker said. "We help everybody out in times of need. Buffalo has proven that over the years in any scenario. So we're just looking forward to having everybody come down and enjoy two beautiful days down in Downtown Buffalo."
