On Saturday, July 25, Ironton aLive hosted the first annual Taste of Ironton and the turnout far exceeded expectations.

Planning for this event began in December 2014 after a poll placed on irontonalive.com showed 98 percent of respondents were in favor of Ironton having a tasting event. That data was shown to potential participants and we got to work. The end result was Saturday where people were able to enjoy up to 40 foods provided by 15 restaurants, bakers and caterers.

Attendance was so incredible that we knew within the first hour that Taste of Ironton will be back in 2016.

We also learned a lot about what we did right and what can improve upon, such as needing more tents and better spacing to accommodate an even larger crowd next year.

What we wanted to do with this event was host a fun and affordable way for people to experience Ironton’s dining opportunities. This coincides with Ironton aLive’s mission of revitalization through commercial growth in which we capitalize upon what we have so we can attract more.

Thanks to the Lawrence County residents that voiced their desire for this event, the participants, those who endured the long lines in the heat, the businesses and organizations that supported us, our volunteers, and the city of Ironton, we are another step closer.

In addition to Taste of Ironton, the farmers market was in full swing as the Kelley’s Bridge Band performed, followed by the Huntington Harmonica Club. The CAO hosted Fun Day activities and information booths; Friends of Ironton was on-hand with raffle tickets and T-shirts; and the Ironton Artists Association and the Ironton Council for the Arts hosted a sidewalk chalk art contest for the kids, while BC Tool Rental’s inflatables stayed busy throughout.

It was a fun day, so mark your calendars because Taste of Ironton will be back on July 23, 2016.

We would like to thank our restaurants, caterers, and bakers: The Laidback, Frisch’s Big Boy, StaTan, Buffalo Wild Wings, Spice of Life, Lori’s Pies, Peddler’s, Tipton’s Traditions, The Depot, End Zone, Little Caesar’s, Rax, Catering by Joy, McDonald’s and Frog Town.

We would also like to thank: BC Tool Rental, Holiday Inn Express, Awards Plus, Printing Express, CAM Interactive, Rent-A-Center, Ironton in Bloom, Ironton Kiwanis, Friends of Ironton, STAR Center, Our Lady of Bellefonte Hospital, OUSC, Ironton Health Department, ILCAO, Ironton Artists Association, Unger’s Shoe Store, Ironton Council for the Arts, Ironton Tribune, Herald Dispatch, WSAZ and the city of Ironton.

Please visit our website at www.irontonalive.com for information on the upcoming Ironton Heritage Festival and other Ironton aLive projects.

 

Ginger Gillenwater

Chairman, Ironton aLive