Residents were treated to a delicious Taste of Wetaskiwin last week, and as planning gets underway for next year, an expanded menu of food and cultural performances is in the works!
After a two-year hiatus, like many of our favourite events, Taste of Wetaskiwin participants and volunteers served a feast for the eyes, ears and tastebuds.
Seven Wetaskiwin restaurants and eateries provided an array of culinary treats ranging from Filipino fusion to smokehouse barbecue:
- Barney’s Pub & Grill
- Farm to Table Catering | The Glens Grill and Graze Food Truck
- Hogz’ Deli & Smokehouse
- Mitchell’s Café
- Pasta Kulture
- Renato’s Cucina Family Restaurant
- the tart guy
Accompanying the dining options were pours from nine Alberta craft beverage purveyors.
With the event hosted at the same time as Alberta Culture Days, Taste of Wetaskiwin also takes its celebrations beyond the culinary arts.
While guests savoured their selections, they also enjoyed cultural performances that included a pow wow celebration, belly dancing and a set from singer Sarah Lee, followed by rock-and-roll classics from Usually Tuesday. Artist Stephanie Kapteyn was also on hand, creating a painting from start to finish during the evening. The final work was auctioned off in support of the Wetaskiwin Museum as part of a fundraising component that also included a silent auction.
“After being cancelled for two years, to see it all come together and to have the community come out and support it, that was just terrific,” says event chair and museum executive director Karen Aberle.
The integration of both the cultural components and the exceptional food and beverage selections is at the heart of the event’s success.
“It’s really a beautiful example of how different groups, like the City, the museum, businesses, artists, performers and volunteers can come together to create something better than the sum of its parts,” Aberle says.
Planning is already underway for next year, with the date to be set shortly. As always, feedback and suggestions from attendees and the community are always welcome.
“Every year we have the event, it exceeds our expectations, but we also want to keep improving,” Aberle says, suggesting a food truck component and more interactive cultural experiences are among the ideas being considered.
“And nothing happens without volunteers,” she adds. “We’re just so grateful to everyone who came out to make the event possible.”