198. Taste of Grand Rapids

The 2011 Taste of Grand Rapids & BBQ Competition kicks off Friday, July 22nd and continues Saturday, July 23rd for two days of food tasting, live music, and a barbecue competition. Hours are 3pm to 10pm on Friday, July 22nd and 11am to 10pm on Saturday, July 23rd. The Taste of Grand Rapids will be held at John Ball Park, 1300 West Fulton Street, Grand Rapids, Michigan.

Admission and parking at the Taste of Grand Rapids are free, which makes it a weekend full of affordable family fun. Patrons may purchase tastes and samples of food from over 25 participating Grand Rapids area restaurants and enjoy live, non-stop entertainment. Kids can enjoy the designated Children’s Area, and adults can enjoy beer and wine with their tasty food samples. Barefoot Wines will be making their first ever appearance at the Taste of Grand Rapids this year to accommodate those looking for unique food and wine pairings.

Along with a wide variety of food and entertainment, the Taste of Grand Rapids will feature a Kansas City Barbecue Society (KCBS) sanctioned competition. Approximately 35 teams from across the state are expected to compete to determine the “State Barbecue Champion of Michigan.”

Friday evening will be hosted by 101.3 The FOX, bringing in an eclectic mix of bands including Grand Rapids favorites Deadwood Stone and AB & Coconut Brown. Saturday will be family day, hosted by STAR 105.7 and B-93. Nashville artists James Wesley (“Real”) and Bradley Gaskin (“Mr. Bartender”) will be performing, along with local country favorites Small Town Sons and the Shelagh Brown Band.

This year’s participating restaurants include:

1. That Place on Plainfield

2. The Venue

3. Café San Juan

4. Grill Masters

5. Culver’s

6. Georgio’s Gourmet Pizza

7. The Corner Bar

8. TGI Friday’s

9. GoJo Ethiopian Cuisine

10. Chez Olga

11. Sandmann’s

12. XO Asian Cuisine

13. Koeze Retail Store

14. Blue Smoke BBQ

15. Peppinos

16. Jonny B’z

17. The Muze

18. Buffalo Wild Wings

19. Jamaican Dave’s

20. Red Robin

21. Fred’s Italian Restaurant

22. Wing Heaven

23. Grand Traverse Pie

24. 25 Kitchen & Bar

25. Melting Pot

26. Schondelmayer Bar-B-Q

Admission and Parking Rates: Free
Samples range from $1-$5.
The fun begins, Friday, July 22 from 3pm-10pm and Saturday, July 23 from 11am-10pm!

Entertainment Lineup: (subject to change)
Friday, July 22:

* 3:30p……The Media Fear
* 4:15p……Sidetrack
* 5:00p……Lefty Malone
* 5:50p……Insane Theatre
* 6:40p……Mo Biggsley
* 7:30p……Daddy’z Breakdown<
* 8:20p……Deadwood Stone
* 9:10p……AB & Coconut Brown

Saturday, July 23:

* 11:00a……Garrett Borns
* 12:00p……Jake Blakeney
* 1:00p……Charles Meyers
* 2:00p……Michatucky
* 3:00p……BBQ Competition Awards
* 4:00p……Kris Hitchcock & the Small Town Sons
* 5:00p……John Maison
* 6:00p……Shelagh Brown Band
* 7:00p……Stroke of Midnight
* 8:00p……Bradley Gaskin
* 9:00p……James Wesley

Location
John Ball Park
1300 Fulton Street West
Grand Rapids, MI 49504

Contact
Phone: 616-459-1919
For more info visit: http://www.b93.com/common/Taste-of-Grand-Rapids/