Something tasty to do in the city
Inaugural Taste of Summer draws hundreds to Montebello Park
Tania Vawda quickly discovered that it seemed there was always something to do in Toronto during the few years she called the big city home.
“There was always something going on, every weekend,” she said.
Vawda wanted to bring that aspect of Toronto back with her when she moved back to St. Catharines.
“I found that for kids to do something there isn’t much — just having something to do in the city and promoting it.”
In April, she teamed up with her brother Emerson Castaneda to start T and Zee Events, hoping to bring some excitement to her quiet hometown.
Saturday, her company organized the inaugural Taste of Summer Festival at Montebello Park, bringing 40 vendors together and creating an event that provided a bright sunny day of entertainment for hundreds of people.
The event was also an opportunity for local businesses to showcase their products.
“It’s just having something to do in the city and just promoting. We have craft breweries now, and a lot to offer,” she said, while accepting tickets from children visiting a bouncy castle.
“We have a lot of entrepreneurs and craft people, and it gets their names out there, too.”
The event also gave local charities like Pets Alive Niagara, an opportunity to raise funds and awareness about their causes.
In addition to plans to make the Taste of Summer an annual event, Vawda is planning several more events.
For instance, Vawda is planning a food truck festival in late August that would also include local microbreweries and wineries.