FILING IN Crowds of people made their way into the Taste of Wauseon Gala This was the 8th annual Gala and was sold out in just two days
By: Renea Kessler
THE VILLAGE REPORTER
renea@thevillagereporter.com
The Annual Taste of Wauseon Gala was held this past weekend. Held at St. Caspar’s Parish Life Center on Saturday, February 24th, the event was a huge hit with crowds rolling in at open time. Doors opened at 6:00 p.m. with entertainment following shortly after.
The event itself sold out in just two days, with over 300 tickets being sold. This year’s event also saw a record number of major sponsors sign up, with this year’s number ending up at 19.
Previous years have seen as many as 13 major sponsors, which makes this year especially special.
Eleven Heart Beat Awards were also presented during this year’s event. The Heart Beat Awards were created to recognize those businesses that have started a new business, moved into or bought a different building, remodeled, or renovated their existing building on the inside or outside. The Heart Beat name comes from the city slogan “Wauseon, the city you will take to heart”.
The Taste of Wauseon Gala leads up to the Wauseon Chamber’s Restaurant Week event. From Saturday, February 24th to Sunday, March 3rd, customers can obtain a card from any of the participating restaurants.
Throughout the week, each time they dine out they will receive a sticker. After getting five stickers, information on the card will need to be filled out and then turned in to be entered in a drawing.
The drawing will then be held on Thursday, March 7th. Twenty-two prizes will be given out, including a 65-inch Samsung Smart TV and 21 various restaurant gift cards valued at $25.00 each. This is the third annual Restaurant Week, with the first year seeing over 320 cards turned in.
With the public being so receptive to both events, Chamber Executive Director Bill Drummer explained that the public loves these events and that he is proud of what is being done.
“I have been told the days of local things are over. I am here to tell you that they are not. We have the right things here. The public loves this, if they didn’t, we wouldn’t sell out in two days. I am pretty proud of this.”
Tickets were sold at a price of $50.00 per person, with major sponsors donating $500.00. Money from the Gala goes to support the Heart Radiothon.
That event is hosted on WMTR radio, with listeners calling in and requesting songs, while also pledging money towards the cause.
The money earned is dedicated to programs throughout the county that are related to heart health. This year the event was held in cooperation with the Fulton County Health Center.
Entertainment for the night was provided by bands Kall Me Kendra and Lee Warren Music.
Several local businesses provided food for the event, including the American Winery and Brewery, Biggby Coffee, Blue Ribbon Diner, Sweet Delights Café, Habaneros, Ramblin Red’s Brewing Company, Sauder’s Barn Restaurant, Sullivans Restaurant, The Table on Fulton, Warrior Wings, Pizza Hut, and Marco’s Pizza.
