Taste of Lakewood Returns To Madison Park

From Lakewood Chamber of Commerce: The Taste of Lakewood, presented by the Lakewood Chamber of Commerce and Cleveland Magazine, was held on Sunday, June 11th at Madison Park.

A record crowd estimated to be in excess of 15,000 people enjoyed the no-admission fee, outdoor day-long food and music festival that celebrates Lakewood’s reputation as a great food and dining destination. Twenty-eight of Lakewood’s best restaurants, including El Carnicero, Barrio, Angelo’s Pizza, Georgetown, Mars Bar, Salt, and Sarita, plus newcomers Upper Crust Pizza, LBM and Distill Table, participated as food vendors.

FireSide Band and Where's Jimmy?, two bands with strong Lakewood roots, performed to an enthusiastic crowd on the First Federal Lakewood Stage.Attendees also shopped in the Merchant Market that featured over 20 independent Lakewood businesses such as STEM Handmade Soap, GV Art + Design, and Cuyahoga Collective.

New in 2017, the Dollar Bank Dollar Challenge added a competitive aspect to the event. Attendees were given the opportunity to vote – with dollars - for their favorite Taste of Lakewood restaurant. Humble Wine Bar, receiving the most votes, was declared the 2017 Taste of Lakewood favorite food vendor.

Proceeds from the Dollar Bank Dollar Challenge and a portion of the proceeds from the Taste of Lakewood supports the Lakewood Chamber of Commerce scholarship program, established to reward and assist college-bound high school seniors from St. Edward and Lakewood High Schools. Three of the four 2017 Chamber scholarship recipients were present at the event and were introduced by Lakewood Mayor Mike Summers: Hana Shaheen and Walker Miller from Lakewood High School, and Mohamad Abusharekh from St. Edward High School.

The Taste of Lakewood has become one of the region's "must attend" food events of the summer. For event photos visit www.tasteoflakewood.com,facebook.com/TasteofLakewood and instagram.com/TasteofLakewood.

Image Courtesy of Lakewood Chamber