Buffalo Food: Festival adding seating, digital dietary guide and expanded kids villege

By Gabrielle Dubreville
(Photos by Dan Cappellazzo, courtesy of Taste of Buffalo)

New vendors aren’t the only thing to be looking for if you’re going to the Taste of Buffalo food festival this weekend.

The event is Saturday and Sunday (July 11 and 12) along Delaware Avenue from Niagara Square to Chippewa Street. It will be from 11 a.m. until 9 p.m. on Saturday and from 11 a.m. until 7 p.m. on Sunday.

Organizers say there are a lot of new and exciting vendors and additions to this year’s Taste of Buffalo.

“Altogether, these new additions help make this year’s festival more interactive, family-friendly and engaging than ever before,” said Adam Roma, the board Chair.

One of their biggest additions is Taste Marketplace in Niagara Square. It will feature 17 local artisan vendors and will offer guests more opportunities to shop and support local businesses. 

Additionally, new bleacher seating will be added along Delaware Avenue in front of the Statler to provide places to sit and enjoy your food.

There will also be a digital dietary guide to ensure inclusivity and accessibility so everyone can enjoy Buffalo’s summer staple, with options to accommodate dietary needs. You can get the guide for the entire festival (restaurant listings, performance schedule, etc) HERE.

“This year we made a significant focus on ensuring there are options for everyone with a digital dietary guide for every item to indicate if they are dairy-free, gluten-free, tree nut-free, peanut-free, contain pork, vegan, or vegetarian,” Roma said.

Here are some options:

Check out the buffalo-shaped pretzels by Pretzalo, featured by sponsor Lavocat Nursery, in a Beer Garden setting.

Families can find an expanded Kids Village and Interactive Experience Zone packed with activities. 

There will be various activities available, including the Music is Art Instrument Zoo, Dreamy Buffalo’s slime station, Sik Braids hair braiding, the Buffalo Bills Kid Zone and BB Bingo, arts and crafts from the Buffalo & Erie County Public Library, FeedMore WNY’s ‘Kids in the Kitchen’ educational activities, food-building projects with the Buffalo Architecture Foundation and complimentary Loganberry slushie samples from Crystal Beach.

And, of course, there is the food. There will be 13 rookie restaurants included this year. These include Chef Big Wayne Jamaican Cuisine, Hiibachi Fried Rice, La Cocina De Titi, Milk Tea’Rapy, Pudgy Potatoes, Smash & Roll, Street Cravings, Sweet Minis, Sweets Lounge and Restaurant, The Quesadilla Company, The Sangwich Mother, Wind Japanese and Thai Buffalo, and Yankee BBQ Smokehouse & Tavern.

And there will still be returning restaurants and vendors, including classics such as Fat Bob’s. 

Roma is most excited for everyone to experience the same great Taste with brand-new vibes.

“At the core of this event, it is about the food, and I am excited for our guests to enjoy all the diverse food options that call Buffalo home,” he said.

First-time visitors may feel overwhelmed with all the choices, but Roma has advice for them. “Make a plan. Check out the festival guide at TasteofBuffalo.com to familiarize yourself with the menu items. Also, you can purchase pre-sale vouchers at participating Tops for discounted pricing.”

Not only will there be various food vendors, but there will also be a wide variety of entertainment and interactive experiences for guests of all ages. On Sunday at 1 p.m., there will be a pie-eating contest sponsored by Tops.

Taste of Buffalo has refreshed its entertainment lineup. Performances will include one from the winner of Taste of Buffalo’s first-ever Battle of the Bands competition, Part Time Genius.

Guests will also be treated to performances by Buffalo Aerial Dance, which will add a unique visual element to the event. 

In addition, attendees can participate in an interactive chalk art installation. 

Roma said, “These attractions complement the food offerings and help make Taste of Buffalo a full festival experience, with something to enjoy no matter your age or interests.”

This festival has evolved throughout the years. Roma said, “We are rich in history from our early beginnings on Delaware 43 years ago, to becoming a staple on Main Street, to now being one of the country’s largest two-day food festivals in our current location.”

Taste of Buffalo is a non-profit that gives back to its community through scholarships and donations to the many organizations that volunteer with them over the weekend, such as FeedMore WNY. This year proceeds from the Tops tent will benefit Buffalo-Niagara Honor Flight and the Firefighter Arno Memorial Foundation.

This year-round planning process is brought by their all-volunteer board of directors, event management and sponsorship team.

Roma reflects on his memories of past festivals: “Taste of Buffalo brings people together and is so family-oriented. I love that my kids are eager to be a third-generation board member, as my wife’s family has been involved for 35-plus years. Every year is like one big family reunion.”