Taste of Northampton expands this weekend with music stages and fundraiser
The festival adds two music stages and a health and wellness hub while reviving a Miles for Music fundraiser on Sunday.
NORTHAMPTON — The Taste of Northampton returns this weekend to the Armory Street parking lot for its fourth year since the festival was revived, offering expanded programming alongside its traditional focus on food and drink.
The festival runs from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Saturday and 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday. New features this year include [two live music stages], a health and wellness hub featuring local organizations, and an expanded kids zone with arts and crafts and educational activities presented by A2Z Science & Learning and WillowRoot.
On Sunday, the festival will also host the Miles for Music fundraiser, an 8.1-mile run, walk, and relay from The Drake in downtown Amherst to the Iron Horse. Proceeds will support both nonprofit music venues. Eastside Grill owner Debra Flynn, who sits on the festival's organizing committee, said the expanded offerings reflect how the event has grown beyond food. "This year especially, it's going to bring a lot more than just food," Flynn said.
The Taste of Northampton originally ran as a [four-day festival] in the 1990s and early 2000s, reportedly serving as a model for similar events across New England. It ceased in 2004, returned as a single-day festival in 2022, and became a two-day event last year. The [Downtown Northampton Association] leads the festival's annual organization.
Restaurant India House, located on State Street, has participated every year since the festival began. Owner Amit Kanoujia said the event serves as both an advertisement for individual restaurants and a showcase for the city itself. "It's definitely an advertisement for the restaurant, but it's also an advertisement for the city of Northampton and everything that it has to offer," Kanoujia said. This year, India House will serve a non-alcoholic dragon-fruit margarita, buttermilk chicken tenders with Indian spices over waffles, and an Indian version of pumpkin risotto.
Kanoujia expressed pride in how the festival brings visitors from across the country and creates a sense of community. "When you just see the parking lot full, and I see people just getting the lines of people, and you know people bumping into each other, it really just reinforces the sense of community, and I love it," he said.
More than 30 restaurants are expected to participate. Mayor Gina-Louise Sciarra said in a statement that last year's event was a success and this year's festival will "bring even more food, music, and activity downtown." For a full performance lineup and more details, visit the festival website.