by Site Administrator | March 7, 2023 11:19 am
SYRACUSE, NY – The International Taste Festival will take people on another trip around the world and through time with new cultural entertainment and food when it returns to the Center of Progress Building at the New York State Fairgrounds Saturday, April 1 from 11 a.m. – 9 p.m. Admission is $5 by advance sale through March 31 and $10 during the event at the door or online. Children age 10 and under are admitted free. Tickets are available here[1]. USA Today recently named the event one of the 20 best city food festivals[2] in America.
The International Taste Festival 5K and 10K run also returns. The course winds through the Fairgrounds and the paved New York State Empire Trail, starting and ending at the Center of Progress Building. Registration of $45 for the 5K and $55 for the 10K includes admission to the International Taste Festival. Runners can register here[3]. The event is presented by Dick’s Sporting Goods and Willow Running USA.
“The heart of the festival is to present the many cultures of our world through performance, food and crafts that shows us how we are linked in one great human adventure. This year, we’re casting an even broader net and I know these experiences will be as entertaining as they are eye-opening,” said Stephanie Pestillo, founder of the International Taste Festival.
Four performers join the lineup for the first time this year:
Yamatai, Cornell University’s student ensemble for the Japanese style of drumming known as taiko. The group’s stated aim is “to explore musical possibilities of taiko drumming in contemporary adaptations while respecting the origins of the traditional art.” Yamatai performs at 12:30 p.m.
Agape Black Belt Center, a demonstration of basic and advanced Taekwondo skills from the Rochester-area school, at 4:15 p.m.
Odesa Ukrainian Dance Ensemble, now in its 7th decade of promoting pride in Ukraine’s national heritage through song and dance in venues around Central New York. Odesa performs at 7:15 p.m.
Freddy Colon and the Latin Jazz Quartet, featuring professional percussionist Colon leading a band in Latin jazz and R&B. Colon is part of the longtime Rochester group the Mambo Kings and is a leading jazz educator who has appeared with Aretha Franklin, Tito Rojas, Ray Sepulveda and with symphony orchestras across the country. The band caps the day of entertainment with an 8 p.m. performance.
Fan favorites returning for a second year are:
St. Sophia’s Greek Orthodox Church Dancers, at 11:15 a.m.
Chris Thomas and his Smoke Dancers at 11:45 a.m.
Music Is Art – Pan-African Drumming Performance at 1:30 p.m.
Syracuse Highland Pipe Band at 2:30 p.m.
Vietnamese Community of Syracuse Performance at 3:15 p.m.
Central Bellydance of Syracuse at 5:30 p.m.
India Community Religious and Cultural Center Performance at 6:30 p.m.
The lineup of food and merchandise vendors is still being firmed up but several new food options will be available this year.
Full details on all aspects of the festival can be found on its website[4].
About the festival
The International Taste Festival celebrates the music, food and crafts of the world’s many cultures. USA Today named the event one of the top 20 city food festivals[5] in America, calling it “a great place to sample homegrown favorites as well food from around the globe, all for a reasonable price. Live entertainment and a 5K/10K race add to the fun. It’s family-friendly, so bring the kids.”
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