Longest-Running Food Festival in Metro Atlanta

We have heard that food is a common denominator that brings people from different cultures, religions and backgrounds together. It is no surprise then, that people flock to the city of Alpharetta each spring to celebrate the season with food, music and activities.

Over 40,000 locals and visitors are expected to taste some mouthwatering delights and groove to live music at the four stages where local and national jazz, folk, rock and country musicians perform live. Named a Signature Event of the Southeast Tourism Society, Taste of Alpharetta brings families and friends together and exposes them to the vibrant cultural diversity found in their own backyards.

The event, which started in 1991, is a true testament to the power of food. Three decades later, Taste of Alpharetta has established itself as the longest-running food festival in Metro Atlanta. Since the inaugural Taste of Alpharetta, the event has grown from featuring a handful of restaurants to 60 restaurants in and around Alpharetta.

On the streets of Alpharetta, you will find the city’s cosmopolitan representation in the food stalls. From Greek, Italian, Indian and Persian, to Thai, Korean, Latin, and Japanese, Taste of Alpharetta showcases how the city has become a melting pot of transplants from all over the world. Each restaurant offers a small tasting portion from its menu, so you can sample a variety of cuisines for the evening. Use the event’s digital currency called TasteBucks and sample your way around the festival. Within a few steps, you can have steamed dumplings from M Thai Street Food, roasted eggplant stew from Persian Basket Kitchen & Bar and English-style scone with clotted cream from The Ginger Room, to name a few. To savor your thirst, sip on locally brewed beer, Georgia wine, and freshly made juices.

But there’s more to Taste of Alpharetta than just satiating your tastebuds. You can also learn about all aspects of the food system, including soil health, the importance of pollinators, local farm programs, and more. Join hands-on activities at the Locally Grown section of the festival for a succulent propagation activity and seed starting kits. You can also learn about the different organizations contributing to the local food system, which include North Fulton Young Farmers, AGaretta Box, Fresh Harvest, Fulton Science Academy and Milton Bee Club. This year, the festival is partnering with Second Helpings Atlanta to help fight food insecurity by recovering surplus food from restaurants and donating it to a local nonprofit.

Through culinary events like Taste of Alpharetta, kids are better able to visualize and appreciate where their food comes from. And they can also have fun playing games and enjoying a pirate ship ride, bounce houses, climbing walls, and obstacle courses in the Kidz Zone.

This year, Taste of Alpharetta will take place on May 9 from 5-10 p.m. in Downtown Alpharetta. The event is free to attend, but you need to pay for food samples and wrist bands for Kidz Zone access. Purchase tickets and learn more at Taste of Alpharetta.