ICYMI: Taste of Somerville Finds New Home

SOMERVILLE, MA – After 18 years, the Taste of Somerville festival is moving out. But it's not going far. The annual event uniting the restaurants, farms, food trucks, craft beer and culture that make Somerville unique will set up shop this year at Nathan Tufts Park in Powderhouse Square.

"We've loved being in the heart of Davis Square the past few years, but the chance to move to this beautiful park space with lots of grass, lawn furniture and rugs to spread out on, plus games and entertainment for children and adults will make it feel like an entirely different event," Luke O’Neil, a member of the Taste of Somerville planning committee, said in a statement.

The move was necessitated by the festival's explosion in popularity. In fact, the event sold out the last three years, serving more than 1,200 attendees. With more breathing room, it will expand from 40 vendors to more than 60 and serve over 2,000 guests, in addition to featuring the burgeoning creative, entrepreneurial and tech industries in Somerville.

Sponsored by the Somerville Chamber of Commerce, proceeds from the festival will benefit Somerville Home, which provides 24-hour nursing care for the elderly and Walnut Street Center, a human services agency protecting some of the city's most vulnerable residents.

The festival will be held June 14. Here's what to expect.

Food

• Boston Burger
• Brass Union
• Bronwyn
• Casa B
• Cuisine En Locale
• Daves Fresh Pasta
• El Potro
• Fat Hen
• Five Horses Tavern
• Flatbread
• Foundry on Elm
• Fuji at Assembly
• Gracie's Iecream
• Highland Kitchen
• Holiday Inn
• Joshua Tree Grill
• JP Licks
• Juliet
• Kirkland Tap & Trotter
• La Posada
• Machu Picchu
• Manoa Poke Shop
• Meju
• Mount Vernon
• Oat Shop
• Olde Magoun's Saloon
• Orleans
• Outback Steakhouse
• Pj Ryan
• Redbones
• River Bar
• Saloon
• On the hill Tavern
• The Burren
• The Independent
• Tony C's
• Whole Foods
• Bon Me
• Compliments
• Roxy's Gourmet Grilled Cheese
• Rhythm 'n Wraps
• Papi's Stuffed Sopapillas
• Oath Pizza
• Just add Cooking
• NOLA Salsa
• Caralinas
• Tower Beverages
• Kung Foo Tea
• Somerville High School
• MEM Tea Imports
• Espresso Plus

More to come.

Entertainment

Family Fun

Entertainment for children and adults will include a pop-up playground jungle from Parkour and a firetruck from the Somerville Fire Department. Adults can pass the time playing cornhole, fooseball and bocce.

VIP Access

Drink artisanal cocktails on inviting carpets, enjoy oyster and wine pairings, relax in garden furniture, and try exclusive tastes from some of Somerville’s high end restaurants like Juliet, only available in the VIP section.

Lawn Lounge

Lounge on the park lawn, relax in the beauty of Nathan Tufts Park, and chill to the summer beats of local favorite DJ Nate Bluhm.

Photos submitted

Story originally published May 4.