Downtown Springfield’s Taste of SoMo festival returns with a new date, a record number of participants and some truly tasty programming including a new SoMo Restaurant Week.
The 11th annual Taste of SoMo, formerly Taste of Springfield, will be held June 24 in Springfield’s Park Central Square. The event has traditionally occurred in October, but is moving to June to establish itself as a standalone summer event. Taste of SoMo 2017 will feature samples from over 25 of southwest Missouri’s best restaurants plus educational opportunities, beer sampling, live music and more. Participating restaurants include Black Sheep Burgers & Shakes, Civil Kitchen, Druff’s and more. See the full list of participants here.
Tasting the cuisine at Taste of SoMo in Springfield, Missouri.
“The Springfield restaurant scene is experiencing a mouthwatering renaissance,” said Downtown Springfield Association Events Manager Bethany Bell. “We think there is no better place to celebrate the Springfield foodie culture than Park Central Square, and this year, we have a record number of delicious restaurant booths.”
Taste of SoMo to include food sampling, live music and more
Food sampling takes place from 1 p.m.–5 p.m., allowing foodies to vote for the region’s best appetizer, main dish and desserts. Patrons will then enjoy live music on the Towny bandstand stage, food truck dining and beer in the Square until 7 p.m. After 7, patrons are encouraged to enjoy Downtown Restaurant Walk, an opportunity to taste some of downtown Springfield’s best cuisine. Other attractions include a local chef panel moderated by Feast Magazine and educational programming along Park Central East sponsored by Ruby’s Market.
A family sampling food at Taste of SoMo in Springfield, Missouri.
Free admission
Admission to Taste of SoMo is free. Guests are able to purchase 10 food sampling tickets for only $10.
SoMo Restaurant Week encourages patrons to visit local restaurants
This year, the Downtown Springfield Association is excited to announce the addition of SoMo Restaurant Week and the SoMo Foodie program. SoMo Restaurant Week will occur the week prior to Taste of SoMo (June 19–25), serving as a weeklong celebration of local restaurant culture. Patrons can enjoy affordable lunch, dinner and dessert menus at participating restaurants; restaurants offering lunch and dinner menu items will donate $1 to Ozarks Food Harvest for every Restaurant Week meal purchased.
SoMo Foodie program to promote social sharing
Patrons are also encouraged to work toward SoMo Foodie status to qualify for free food and foodie swag. SoMo Foodies will qualify for three free sheets of Taste of SoMo tasting tickets, plus exclusive foodie prizes and access to chef events. Patrons can qualify using a Restaurant Week punch card, available at all participating restaurants, or by using the hashtag #SoMoFoodie on Instagram. More information is available here.
Taste of SoMo is managed by the Downtown Springfield Association and presented by SGC Foodservice.
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