Taste of Gaithersburg Needs Vendors

The Taste of Gaithersburg is looking for a little more flavor.

With the deadline for restaurants to receive a free sign with their appliation fast approaching, the City has so far only received one application to participate.

Nansie Wilde, a recreation program manager with the city, said at a Celebrate Gaithersburg ad hoc committee meeting this morning that there really need to be at least 15 food vendors for the event to "feel like a taste" event.

The Taste of Gaithersburg event is planned to run concurrently with the 30th Annual Celebrate Gaithersburg in Olde Towne festival on Sept. 18.

Brusters Ice Cream is the only confirmed applicant thus far.

However there are another three or four vendors who have verbally committed to participating.

Similar "Taste" events in Rockville and Bethesda attract dozens of food vendors.

The 'taste' food will be the only food at Celebrate Gaithersburg other than a few snack vendors.

The application fee for Gaithersburg restaurants is $225, while out-of-town restaurants must pay $250, the application says.

The fee, if received before July 2, entitles the business to a 10' x 10' space and tent, two six-foot tables, advertising on the city's website and an 18”x24” sign with the restaurant name and four items and drinks and prices.

If the application is received after July 2, the vendors has to buy the sign directly from the sign manufacturer for $36.50.

Other vendors are starting to inquire about the festival, Wilde said, as people are starting to think about the fall.

There are several new features at this year's Celebrate Gaithersburg festival, and several returning features.

There will be a microbrew garden, which is being put on by Growler's Pub. They will be making a special microbrew for the festival, and there is a revenue sharing agreement with between the brewery and the city.

The boundaries have shrunk slightly, which organizers hope will make the event feel slightly fuller.

There will also be a "green zone" which will feature environmentally conscious displays and Flumpa the frog.

Unique attractions like a tethered hot-air balloon to give rides and a novelty hat vendor are being considered as well.

As in years past, the naturalization ceremony will help kick off the festival. But organizers are looking for new ways to attract larger crowds.

Also new this year is the Gaithersburg's Top Talent competition.

The competition invites young people to show off their best dance and music skills and compete for a $400 cash prize in each category. The winners will also receive four hours of rehearsal time at Impact Studio, and four hours of weekend recording time at the Olde Towne Youth Center.