The Taste of Parkersburg will be held from 6-11 p.m. May 17 at Bicentennial Park. The festival featuring local wine, beer and food vendors and entertainment was No. 2 in USA Today’s Best City Food Festival. (File Photo)

PARKERSBURG — The annual Taste of Parkersburg, recently named No. 2 in USA Today’s Best City Food Festival, will be held from 6-11 p.m. May 17 at Bicentennial Park.

The show features local food, wine and beer vendors and live entertainment.

Two big changes to the event include going “cashless” and the addition of four- and eight-person tables. For more information about ticket sales, table reservations, sponsorships, food and drink menus and live entertainment go to downtownpkb.com.

A cashless event means Taste of Parkersburg will accept credit or debit cards at all points that require payments, such as for admission tickets, wine and beer. The only exceptions are the food vendors and they may accept cash or card.

Tickets are $20 in advance at www.downtownpkb.com or $25 at the gate. Gates open at 6 p.m. and the event ends at 11 p.m.

The Taste of Parkersburg is organized by Downtown PKB. The title sponsor is Truist Bank.

Other sponsors include: volunteer sponsor, the Deitzler Foundation; technology sponsor, WVU Parkersburg; and gold sponsors, WVU Medicine Camden Clark Medical Center, Pickering Associates, United Bank and Grogg’s Home Services.

More than 100 volunteers and corporate volunteers participate in the event.

This year’s food vendors include Hangry’s, D’Paulo’s Pizzeria, WVU Medicine Camden Clark, Pappy’s Lip Smackin’ BBQ, The Blennerhassett Restaurant & Lounge, Wine Down on Market, The Little Stirr, El Mariachi, Philippines’ Best, The Lost Anchor, Unity Mac Bar & Bistro, Jimmy Avocado’s and the Crystal Café.

Local wineries will be Stone Road, Wine Tree, Chestnut Ridge, Country Vintner and Toscana in Appalachia. Numerous internationally known wine brands will be available.

Participating beer vendors include Parkersburg Brewing, Spriggs Distributing, Beverage Market and Mountain State Distributing.

The annual Taste of Parkersburg is a fundraiser for Downtown PKB with all proceeds used for the revitalization of downtown Parkersburg.

USA Today’s Best City Food Festival Top 10 list as chosen by readers was announced in March. The Taste of Parkersburg was No. 2 behind the Queen City Market in Queens, N.Y.

“Taste of Parkersburg is a beloved annual event in West Virginia that celebrates the local food scene,” USA Today said.