Vendors, volunteers and visitors brave “extreme wind” for inaugural Taste of Bolton event

By Zachary Roman

Event organizers were blown away by support for the first Taste of Bolton event despite extreme winds.

Held on June 17 at the Royal Courtyards in Bolton, the event featured local food and drinks, and live music.

Sara Clarkson, a member of the Downtown Bolton Task Force — the group responsible for organizing the Taste of Bolton event series — said it was a great night.

“We probably had about one to two hundred people there in and out throughout the night. Wine Spot had their traveling bar setup right in the court,” said Clarkson. “Ammoye, she was amazing, really good. She's a five-time Juno nominee… people were up dancing.”

Ammoye was the night's musical entertainment, performing on a stage that was set up in the courtyards. Clarkson said a micro-grant was obtained from the Town of Caledon by the Downtown Bolton Task Force to pay musical acts and set up a stage with a sound system and lighting.

Wine Spot had crafted some specialty cocktails to match the night's musical theme of reggae and R&B, said Clarkson.

Food vendors that didn't have food trucks were set up under the courtyards to protect them from the wind, said Clarkson. She wanted to thank all the volunteers who helped set up the courtyards, the vendors who were a part of the event, and the people who came out to try something new.

“It went really well, actually, considering the wind, and it's funny — I think some people came in their shorts and then went home and came back again and their jeans and their sweatshirts,” said Clarkson. “It's all about reaching out to the community and getting people together.”

Clarkson explained the Task Force received really good feedback about the event, the only real negative of the night was the wind.

She said some people had hoped for a few more food vendors; however, now that the first event has been held, Clarkson has already received interest from more food vendors looking to get involved. Still, it was a good night for the vendors who braved setting up at the new event as there was less competition for their product.

The next Taste of Bolton will be held on July 15 and Nobleton country artist Matt Morson will be the musical entertainment.

The final Taste of Bolton of 2022 will be held on August 19 when local jazz quartet 4 Skör will perform.