Sat Feb 11 2012
by Dorothy Markulis
Reporter
Hudson -- Food, drink, music, art, children's activities and exhibits -- it will all be there for the entire family at the sixth annual Taste of Hudson Sept. 5 from noon to 8 p.m. and Sept. 6 from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.
"It's becoming a real destination festival," said Andy Malitz, Taste of Hudson executive director.
The first Taste of Hudson in 2005 drew 15,000 people to downtown Hudson. Last year the event drew 30,000. Organizers are hoping to meet or exceed that number this year.
"The number has grown exponentially through the years," said Malitz.
And so has the number of food vendors, activities and entertainment.
Food and beverage coordinator Carrie Gynn reports several returning restaurants, plus several new ones, among the more than 20 scheduled to serve culinary treats at Taste of Hudson. There is also an expanded wine and beer garden.
"This selection of excellent restaurants has made Hudson one of region's culinary focal points," Gynn said.
Live entertainment is a highlight of the event, with eight staging areas featuring 100 different bands, acts and entertainment groups scattered throughout the downtown area.
"This event has become the place to play for local bands," Malitz said.
A large variety of family and children's activities also is slated, including crafts, a Little Tikes play area, inflatables, and adoptable animals from the Summit County Humane Society. City safety forces vehicles also will be on display.
Taste of Hudson is the legacy of the 2003 -04 class of Leadership Hudson, an offshoot of the Rotary Club of Hudson Clocktower.
"They sought me out and asked if I could help with this project. We began working on it in April of 2004," Malitz said.
The original objective was to bring people downtown.
"First & Main was just beginning, so we wanted to bring people to a community outdoor activity that would combine the old and the new downtown. To that end, in six years we have accomplished our primary mission," Malitz said.
From its inception, Taste of Hudson was embraced by the community, business and individuals alike, Malitz reports.
"Taste of Hudson got $1,000 in seed money from the Clocktower Rotary to get us started," Malitz recalled. "We never needed to touch it."
Summa Health Systems was one of the first corporations to offer sponsorship to the event, quickly followed by Akron Children's Hospital.
"That delivered a message to the rest of the community. It gave us instant credibility," Malitz said. "Now, I'm proud to say, we go into every Taste of Hudson event fully whole."
Malitz credits the generosity of the community, its giving nature and its spirit of volunteerism with making the event such a success.
"I'm the conductor for a great group of volunteers who really like putting on a party for the community," Malitz said, noting the core committee of 25 has more than 300 volunteers.
The event gives back to the community as well. To date, Taste of Hudson has returned more than $135,000 in contributions to various community organizations, Malitz said.
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