Taber’s Table getting set for July ‘24
At the March 11 regular meeting of council, Amy Allred, economic development officer for the Town, asked council to sponsor the 2024 Taber’s Table event scheduled for July 19. The joint economic development committee announced their second year of hosting the event, which is a long table dinner experience celebrating local food, growers and producers. Last year, council agreed to Gold Level sponsorship in the amount of $2,500.
Allred told council that last year’s event drew 98 attendees, 10 local sponsors, 24 local vendors that showcased their products, and five local chefs. “Many people tried new food and products that they had never tried from the region, like the ostrich, the whiskey pork belly, the Ukrainian eggplant salsa, and the Earl Grey ice cream. It was a great event that brought to life and celebrated the local food economy. This year is going to be one long, beautifully decorated table, which ties in with our downtown revitalization initiative.”
The event costs about $30,000 to stage, and Coun. Bekkering asked whether the council at the MD of Taber was likewise committed to it. Allred said the MD had previously contributed as a Gold Level sponsor, and she would be approaching them again the next day. Bekkering wanted to know more about the costs of hosting the event, and Allred said there were chefs to pay, food costs, and rentals. With tickets sold at $100 to a maximum of 100 people, ticket sales alone don’t cover the expenses. The event is not designed to generate any profit, and sponsorship levels range between $1000-$5000.
“Besides that, what’s the benefit?”
Bekkering asked.
Allred responded, “The benefit is to celebrate the local food economy and to draw more of a tourism attraction to the agri-food industry that is here.”
The evening will be hosted in downtown Taber on 47th Avenue. The agenda proposal said the street will be closed, and one long table will span the street. On either side of the street, planters full of flowers will be used to string lights across. “The community centre kitchen will be used by the chefs, and the community centre itself will be a backup venue in case of bad weather. Parallel Church kitchen has been booked to be able to serve the food directly from their space. During dinner, Lethbridge Symphony’s string quartet, Musaues will perform, and Canada’s Premier Food Corridor, as our presenting sponsor will MC the event,” the proposal said. “In addition to the tickets, we are offering custom charcuterie boards, cutting boards and coasters for sale with the Taber’s Table logo engraved by Whirlwind Woodcraft. Some of these will be given as sponsor gifts as well.”
Mayor Prokop said, “I attended last year and it was a very well put-on event, a phenomenal event actually. It’s basically a showcase of Taber and all of our growers and what’s in the region. It was very well done and well received.”
The economic development committee hopes that Taber’s Table earns its status as a tradition in the years to come. Coun. Sorensen was clearly in favour of the event and eager to put forth a motion pledging support from the Town. Council unanimously approved the 2024 Taber’s Table sponsorship request in the amount of $2,500 for a Gold Level sponsorship package, with funding to come from the 2024 council discretionary fund. As of the second week of March, council had $13,864.00 available in the discretionary fund.