ROCKY RIVER, Ohio -- The Rocky River Chamber of Commerce, which plans the annual Taste of River, could not have planned a better event or asked for a more perfect day than Saturday (June 25) in their 100th anniversary year.
More than 2,000 people attended -- a huge increase from any other year.
The vision for the event comes from the chamber’s executive director, Angela Barth. She is known for being very creative. After this one, they may be calling her a genius creator and visionary.
She said she had a vision for this year’s al fresco event developing in her mind for the past three years. But, of course, the pandemic got in the way.
In previous years, the Taste of River -- designed to publicize the city’s restaurants -- was held in the city’s civic center, a desirable location, but on the small side. Coming back from the pandemic, it was time to break out and return in a big way. And that is just what Barth and her committee did.
The venue was a closed-off Linda Street. An air-conditioned shuttle bus brought attendees back and forth from a parking lot at the city’s middle school, just a few blocks away.
And it was nice to have an outdoor event so that people could bring along their canine friends, too.
A bandstand was erected for the Dock Holiday band on the east side of the street -- clearly an experienced group of musicians who played party music that was attractive to all age groups, featuring a front man with a good voice.
More than a couple dozen open-air tents were set up across the street from the band for vendors and sponsors. Most of the restaurants in the city were in place with delicious samples from their menus. Drinks were on hand, too, accompanied by big smiles from the bartenders.
Face painters and a magician kept the kids busy and happy.
Jim Riedl has been on the chamber’s board for 23 years and is the co-chair of the Taste of River committee.
“This year, Taste of River has no problems, no issues and everybody is having fun,” he said.
A young couple, Chelsea and Kevin, looked like they were enjoying themselves.
“I love it,” said Chelsea. “I am from the neighborhood and I walked out my front door and I could hear the band.”
But the prize, if there was one, would go to Rocky River resident Dana Williamson with her 7-month-old son, Colin, who was in a stroller. In his cool dude sunglasses, Colin was kicking his legs and waving his arms with a big smile as the band played. He entranced everyone around him.
Dana further commented on the event. “This is pretty cool,” she said. “It’s great to do things like this outside.”
There was just a different kind of happiness in the air. You could see it on everyone’s faces. Perhaps it was people getting out after being homebound so much in the last year or so. But, regardless of the reason, the 2022 Taste of River was simply an unequaled, colossal success.
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