Taste of Marietta celebrates its 25th year

For the last 24 years, one weekend has been more delicious than all others in Marietta.

This year is no different. The 25th Taste of Marietta will be Sunday on Marietta Square and will feature more than 80 restaurants.

Courtney Spiess, who does public relations for the Marietta Visitors Bureau, said they are expecting 85,000 people if the weather holds up.

Below is everything we could think of to let you know about the event:

When is this shindig happening? It’ll run from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Will there be music? There will be a “sunset concert” at 5 p.m., which is easily three hours before the sun actually sets. The band will be Coast Guard, not to be confused with the U.S. Coast Guard band.

What’s this I hear about a competition? Judges will review dishes in the following categories: Best Seafood Dish, Best International Cui- sine, Dangerously Delicious Dessert, Best Comfort Food, Finger Lickin’ Good, The Big Chicken, Tastiest Beverage, Most Unique, Blazin’ About 75 restaurants, caterers and food trucks conjure up their choice plates at Taste of Marietta in 2015. 85,000 people are expected to visit this year.

BBQ and Tastiest Taste. Five judges will look at taste, presentation and creativity. Winners of each category will be announced at 4:15 p.m. . Who are these judges?

■ Bishop Reggie Copeland, a Marietta council member

■ Holly Firfer, a James Beard-winning food jour- nalist

■ LaTria Garnigan, coordi- nator at Cobb Life Magazine

■ Erica Key, founder of Atlanta food blog Eating

with Erica

■ An Earl and Rachel Smith Strand Theatre auction winner

Will children be bored? Hopefully not, as there’ll be “Kids Alley” with games for them.

What about parking? Attendees can park in the decks on Cherokee and Lawrence streets. Organizers encourage folks to park at the Marietta Middle School parking lot. From 1 p.m. to

7:30 p.m. the Historic Marietta Trolley Company will shuttle people from the Mill Street side of the school’s parking lot to the Square.

How much money should I bring? Tastes range from $1 to $5. Organizers said an average attendee spends between $20 and $50 on foods and some drinks.

Which restaurants will be there? Go to tasteofmarietta.com/restaurants for a full list.

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