Taste of SoMo returns to Park Central Square Saturday, June 24, giving you the chance to sample foods from more than 20 restaurants and food trucks while enjoying cold beverages and live music.
And you’ll be raising money for Ozarks Food Harvest while you do it.
Here’s what you need to know before you head downtown for the outdoor food sampling event, which runs from 11 a.m.-3 p.m.
Admission is free, sampling requires tasting tickets
There’s no admission fee to get into Taste of SoMo. If you want to sample food, you’ll need to buy tasting tickets. The Downtown Springfield Association sells sheets of 10 tickets for $10. Those tickets are used as currency at the booths.
Restaurants will be serving up samples of appetizers, entrees and desserts, and they typically cost 1-3 tickets. Here are the restaurants and food trucks participating in this year’s Taste of SoMo:
- 3rabiana
- Bambino’s
- Best of Luck Beer Hall
- Big Whiskey’s
- Black Sheep Burgers
- Blue Room Comedy Club
- Cabos Bonitos
- Chicken Salad Chick
- Dublin’s Pass
- El Paraiso Mexican Kitchen
- Greek Belly
- Jamaican Patty Co.
- Krab Kingz Seafood
- Kung Fu Taco
- Lucky Cat Boba Tea and Taiyaki
- Mimi’s Soulfood
- Nothing Bundt Cakes
- OMO Japanese Soul Food
- Queen City Soul Kitchen
- The Riksha
- The Sandwich Scene
Hailey Magnus, communications manager for the Downtown Springfield Association, points out this is a great chance to check out the neighborhood’s newest restaurants like Cabos Bonitos, El Paraiso and the soon-to-open new location of Jamaican Patty Co.
Coca-Cola products and beer will also be for sale to help you wash down all that tasty goodness.
Tasting tickets support Ozarks Food Harvest
The Downtown Springfield Association donates 10% of all taste ticket sales directly to Ozarks Food Harvest. That’s not the only way you can help.
“Patrons can also donate unused tickets when they are done at the festival and those also go towards supporting Ozarks Food Harvest,” Magnus said. “During the 2022 Taste of SoMo, we raised $1,150 for Ozarks Food Harvest.”
Using OFH’s metrics — $1 buys four meals — that comes out to about 4,600 meals for people experiencing food insecurity in southwest Missouri.
There will be plenty of music
A trio of acts are scheduled to entertain the crowds as they chow down. It starts with local singer-songwriter Dallas Jones at 11 a.m. The Springfield Shanty Choir takes the Park Central Square stage at 12:25, while DJ Alpha Gal plays a set starting at 1:45 p.m.
Check out local vendors while you digest
Magnus said a special marketplace will be set up on Park Central South, between the square and McDaniel Street. 417 Cocktails, Fassnight Creek Farm, Greenlight Dispensaries and Springfield Trading Company will be set up there during the event.
The forecast calls for temperatures in the low 90s, so don’t miss the cooling station set up on the east side of Park Central Square.
Your vote matters
The restaurants aren’t just serving up samples at Taste of SoMo. They’re also competing for awards. Winners get bragging rights as well as an award to display at their restaurant.
“As in the past, patrons will be able to vote for their favorite restaurants at the event, with the categories of Best Entree, Best Appetizer, Best Dessert and Best of Fest,” Magnus said. “Ballots will be available at, and can be returned at, each of the ticket gates.”
Last year’s winners were OMO Japanese Soul Food (Best Appetizer), Dublin’s Pass Downtown (Best Entree, Best of Fest) and The Urban Cup (Best Dessert).
Want to go?
What: Taste of SoMo
When: Saturday, June 24, 11 a.m.-3 p.m.
Where: Park Central Square
Tickets: Admission is free; tasting tickets are $10 for a sheet of 10
For more information: Visit the Taste of SoMo website or find them on Facebook.
