Taste of Crown Point takes a bite out of the city’s restaurant scene

The aroma of a variety of different foods wafted through Bulldog Park as the Taste of Crown Point returned for another successful run from July 18-19. Local restaurants and businesses lined the pavilion throughout the weekend showcasing their menus as attendees browsed the various booths, discovering new flavors and savoring familiar favorites. The event provided a chance for thousands to satisfy their appetite for everything the Crown Point is serving up to its dining scene.

“The Taste is truly a showcase of Crown Point businesses,” said Crown Point Special Events Director Diana Bosse. “It’s a great way to highlight our local business community.”

Restaurants were excited to be back in action for the Taste, giving attendees a bite of their course selections for the weekend. 

“This is our first time here, and we’ve been in business for 15 months. It’s just nice to put our homemade recipes in front of other people,” said Blue Collar Bros. Co-Owner Josh Verbish.

Participating in the event is always a fun time for each vendor, as they get to engage with the community in an environment outside their typical workplace.

“Local restaurants are able to serve their best dishes under the pavilion at Bulldog Park and offer people a ‘taste’ of their menu,” Bosse said. “It’s always a busy weekend for our vendors, and we hope the event helps create return customers for them.”

Attendees were in for a treat both days of the event. The Taste kicked off Friday evening, where visitors could jam out to Salamander Drake and NAWTY as they walked the event. On Saturday, the action started a bit earlier with a performance from The Hicks Duo at 2 p.m., followed by Thrown Together from 3:30 – 5 p.m, Mr. Funnyman from 5:30-6:45 p.m., and Echoes of Pompeii closing it all out from 8- 10 p.m. 

“Every year, we try to have at least one new vendor at the Taste. We had a couple this year. We also had an additional band play on Saturday night, creating more variety for those who enjoy our summer concerts,” Bosse said. “The community is able to enjoy food from restaurants they may not have been able to sit down and eat a full meal at while enjoying awesome live music. It’s a great event for families with the splash pad and activities for children to enjoy.”

In addition to the live music, attendees had a plethora of activities to partake in as they chowed down at the Taste. Both days included a beer garden, face painting, and the splash pad was open for the younger event goers to cool down from their time under the hot summer sun.

The Taste has been a Crown Point staple for many years, as it connects both the city and visitors in a fun and unique way. It’s been many people’s favorite city summer activity, bringing everyone together through a shared love of food, music, and community spirit. The Taste’s enduring popularity has made it a cherished tradition that continues to bring joy and unity to Crown Point, both now and for many years to come.

“Nothing brings people together more than food,” said Verbish. “I think the food is a staple, and helps with bringing friends and family together along with music.”

The City of Crown Point would like to thank everyone from the restaurants to event staff to attendees and everyone in between for making this year’s Taste one for the books. While the Taste of Crown Point has now passed, there’s still plenty in store for Crown Point. To learn more on other fun, upcoming events happening throughout the City of Crown Point, please visit crownpoint.in.gov.

“Our staff always goes above and beyond to make this event possible. I’m grateful for our team at the City, including the PACE, public works, and the police and fire departments, for making this event better every year,” Bosse said. “I hope attendees see what a great food scene we have in Crown Point and mark this event on their calendar for years to come!”