A diverse sampling of Wrightsville Beach’s restaurants will come together this weekend for the inaugural Taste of Wrightsville Beach, 4-7 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 27. Held in the parking lots of Roberts Grocery and Lagerheads in the middle of downtown Wrightsville Beach, the event will feature close to 30 food and beverage vendors.
Wrightsville Beach Foundation president and event co-founder, Lisa Weeks, said 300 tickets have been sold so far. She plans to cap the number of attendees at 500.
“The business community has been phenomenal, just very supportive,” Weeks said. “I can’t say enough about King Neptune and Lagerheads and Roberts Grocery; they have bent over backwards to accommodate what we have needed.”
If tickets do not sell out by the time of the event, Weeks said general admission tickets would be sold at the gate for $50. The ticket pricing levels are split between general admission — $40 for one tasting of each food and beverage vendor — or VIP, which includes the same as general admission, plus early entry and a bucket of a local seafood boil or half a peck of local oysters, both provided by Motts Channel Seafood and Ward’s Produce, for $75. Proceeds from the event will benefit the Wrightsville Beach Foundation’s beautification project and Stop Hunger Now.
Each participating restaurant has incorporated its own flair like shrimp and grits, and homemade sticky buns from 22 North Restaurant; cumin and chili seared tuna from the Blockade Runner Beach Resort’s East Restaurant; sweet potato crusted grouper from South Beach Grill; and a crab and avocado roll from LM Restaurants. Nine other restaurants from Wrightsville Beach and the Wrightsville Sound area will also be at the event competing for the People’s Choice award — chosen by the participants — and the Best In Show award, which will be awarded by a panel of local celebrity judges.
Prior to the main event, the Wrightsville Beach Foundation will also be hosting a meal-packaging event for Stop Hunger Now at 2 p.m. at Wrightsville United Methodist Church. Anyone who wishes to volunteer may participate.
Free parking for Taste of Wrightsville Beach will be available at Wrightsville United Methodist Church, Wrightsville Beach Baptist Church, Little Chapel on the Boardwalk and on-street parking around the event grounds will be free starting at 2 p.m.
If the weather is an issue, the event will be held at the Blockade Runner. For event and ticket information, visit www.wrightsvillebeachfoundation.org or call Lisa Weeks at 910-262-5998.
