Buffalo, NY (WBEN) In an effort to control crowds, this year's Taste of Buffalo will have timed sessions and prepaid admission tickets. Those tickets go on sale next Friday, and will come with food tickets.
Normally, admission is free and you just have to buy food tickets, but with some COVID restrictions still in place, admission will have to be bought online in advance. Admission tickets will cost $20 and will include food and beverage tickets. "With the Tops Session, buying the tickets at Tops, you will get admission and $15 in food and beverage tickets. For the other three session, you will get $10 in tickets," says First Vice Chair Luke Baecker. The Tops session will be July 10th from 11:30am-3:30pm, and tickets for that session only will be available at Tops. The other sessions are 4:30 to 8:30 p.m. Saturday; 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sunday; and 3:30 to 7:30 p.m. Sunday. Baecker says you will receive your food tickets when you redeem your admission ticket. You will also have the opportunity to buy additional food tickets at the ticket tent inside the festival during all four sessions.
Baecker says each ticket will inform guests which of three gates they should enter. Gate A will be located on Delaware Avenue at Huron Street; Gate B will be located at Court Street and Franklin Street and Gate C will be located at Delaware Avenue and West Eagle Street. Gates will open 30 minutes prior to the start of each session. The perimeter of the festival will be closed and monitored by security and guests will be given wristbands upon arrival that are specific to each session. You may purchase tickets to multiple sessions. All guests will be asked to exit the festival at the end of each session.
Baecker says based on updated guidance, guests who are fully vaccinated will not need to wear a face mask at the festival. Guests who are not vaccinated are asked to wear a mask except while they are eating or drinking. Proof of vaccination and a negative PCR test are no longer required, although guests must complete an online health questionnaire within 24 hours of arrival.
Tickets are limited to 5,000 per session. The Taste of Buffalo runs July 10th and 11th.
