(Graphic Illustration - MetroCreativeConnection)

The award-winning Taste of Parkersburg is back for its 18th year on May 17.

The Taste was voted runner-up for Best City Food Festival in USA Today, an award that is a great indication of the community’s love for the event.

Preparation began back in January, and we are ready for the community to come out and enjoy a great evening of food sampling, wine and beer tasting and live music.

New this year, we are going cashless! What this means is you will no longer have to bring cash to the event, and you will not have to buy “liquid tickets” to purchase drinks. Participants will pay for admission tickets, beer, wine and concession stand purchases with credit or debit card at the locations where those items are being sold. The only exception will be at food vendor booths. They may accept cash or card, and you pay them directly for food purchases.

This event is called the Taste of Parkersburg because participants get a chance to sample food, wine and beer from Parkersburg and surrounding areas.

In attendance will be 13 local eateries ready to serve you some of the best flavors in the area. They include The Blennerhassett Restaurant & Lounge, WVU Medicine Camden Clark Medical Center, Chams Lebanese Cuisine, D’Paulo’s Pizzeria, El Mariachi, Hangry’s Food Truck & Catering, Jimmy Avocado’s, The Little Stirr, The Lost Anchor, Pappy’s Lip Smackin BBQ, Philippines Best, Unity Mac Bar & Bistro and Wine Down on Market. In addition, there will be three beer trucks and nine wine booths. There will be something for everyone.

From the beginning until closing, event-goers will have the pleasure of listening to live performances by two local groups. Taking stage the first half of the event will be Division Street. They will cover your favorite radio rock hits from the ’80s, ’90s and 2000s. The second half, Bad Decisions will be entertaining everyone with hits from the ’70s and ’80s to the newest chart-toppers. These two groups are local favorites and are sure to put on great shows.

Throughout the evening, 100-plus volunteers will be working at the event. This group of people are the reason everything can happen that evening. It takes so many hands to run the Taste, and we appreciate them giving their time to make sure the community can enjoy this event year after year.

An event like the Taste cannot possibly take place without solid community support, and we are grateful to have an amazing group of sponsors. They include title sponsor Truist

Bank; volunteer sponsor Deitzler Foundation; gold sponsors Grogg’s Home Services, United Bank, Pickering Associates and WVU Medicine Camden Clark; technology sponsor WVUP’s Innovation & Technology Center; in-kind sponsors CAS Cable, City of Parkersburg, Greater Parkersburg CVB, Pepsi, Royal Restrooms of the Ohio Valley, The Blennerhassett Hotel and the Wood County Commission.

Tickets are now on sale. Advance tickets are $20 and can be purchased online at https://taste_of_parkersburg_2025.eventbrite.com or in person at The Blennerhassett Hotel until May 16 at midnight. Tickets can also be purchased at the gate for $25.

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Jessica Strickler is the events and marketing manager for Downtown PKB.