Ironton aLive event now in its third year

The best food Ironton has to offer will be on display at the farmers market on Saturday, June 24 when the Taste of Ironton event returns for the third year.

This year, there will be at least 14 vendors already confirmed to be there, including The Ambassador Food Truck, Haute Stuff Catering, Southern Most Cafe, Giovanni’s of Ironton, Pick ‘n Save, Peddler’s Home Cooking, Holy Smokes, Buffalo Wild Wings, Macy’s Tasty Bakery, Kizmet Sweets, The Chatter Room (formally The Transit Cafe), the End Zone, Marco’s Pizza, and Tudor’s Biscuit World.

Taste of Ironton is put on by Ironton aLive and it gets bigger every year.

“We can’t really measure how many people show up, because they come and go,” said Ironton aLive Executive Director Sam Heighton. “It’s very large, probably several hundred people. A lot of people like to come and sample what the restaurants and vendors have to offer.”

Heighton said they encourage the vendors to have a new item for people to sample.

“It gives everyone a chance to meet some new customers and to meet new food makers,” he said.

Food samples cost $1, $2 or $3 in tickets. People are advised to buy $10 ticket booklets ahead of time because so many people show up.

Ticket booklets are available at Dick’s Music, Unger’s Shoes or Consigned Books. Ticket sales at the event begin at 10 a.m.

“Last year, we had a long line of people lined up for tickets,” Heighton said. “If you’re going to stand in line, you don’t want it to be for the tickets.”

All of the vendors are from Ironton or have an Ironton connection, like Haute Stuff Catering. It is located in Greenup, but the owner is originally from Ironton. And the Macy’s Tastys’ owner is from Franklin Furnace, but he sets up at the Ironton Farmers Market every week.
The farmers market will be going on at the same time as the Taste of Ironton.

“So people can also buy from the market while they are there,” Heighton said. “So that makes it a good set up.”

Vendor tents will be put up around the perimeter of the parking lot. Vernon Street will be blocked off and two tents with chairs and tables will be set up for people to eat in.

The event goes from 11 a.m.-2 p.m. The farmers market is located on 220 S. 2nd Street in downtown Ironton.

For more information, call 740-533-7951.