EATONTON – First it was the Dairy Festival. Now, Putnam County is staging (weather permitting) another of its annual gala events after a two-year COVID-19 induced absence.

It is The Taste of Eatonton Saturday at the Plaza Arts Center. It starts at 5 p.m. on Oct. 1 and will last until 9 p.m.

“We have missed the food as much as we have missed the attendees,” says the Eatonton-Putnam County Chamber of Commerce. “We are excited to welcome the community back to one of Eatonton’s biggest events of the year. The Taste of Eatonton features different restaurants of varying tastes from Georgia’s Lake Country and the Middle Georgia region. The very best of the best gather to impress attendees with their skills, create delectable dishes, and showcase their best treats.”

Restaurants and food trucks represented so far include, but certainly not limited to, Dot 2 Dot Inn, Kersey Catering, Chick-fil-A Lake Oconee, Rock Eagle, Righteous Ribs, and Damn Yankees BBQ.

Admission tickets and food/drink tickets can be purchased online at tasteofeatonton.com or at the gate on Saturday. Food and drink tickets will also be available to purchase inside the event. 

There’s a new format for the Taste of Eatonton, according to the Chamber, as it is looking to help their vendors generate revenue. Admission tickets are $10 and will include five $1 food and drink tickets. Vendors will provide ‘tastes’ ranging from $1 to $5, and they will have some goodies such as canned jellies/jams, cookies, and much more.

“The Chamber is committed to helping small businesses,” the organization posted on its website. “Therefore, vendors will collect tickets throughout the night and give them to the Chamber at the conclusion of the evening. Within one week, checks will be sent to vendors with their total ticketed earnings.”

Now, it wouldn’t be a party if there was just eating and beverage consumption. There will be live music, a VIP area to watch the Georgia-Missouri game that kicks off at 7:30 p.m. with its own private bar, a car show, a 50/50 raffle, spirit pull and silent auction.

The Taste of Eatonton asked everyone to join the community and help celebrate small businesses with a hearty appetite and make this the best “foodie” event of the year.