Duluth Fall Festival Fetes Sponsors at 'Taste of Duluth'

The Duluth Fall Festival Committee feted sponsors Sept. 15 during the “Taste of Duluth” at the . Twelve local restaurants and caterers served samples of their gourmet and casual cuisine at the elegant dress-up party.

“Taste of Duluth” is one of several events that lead up to the festival scheduled for Sept. 24 and 25 on the and downtown city streets. Festival organizers usually encourage sponsors and volunteers to wear their festival T-shirts to every event, but not so at the tasting where the rule is: “No T-shirts allowed.”

The festival is observing its 29th year, and the current T-shirts are gold. They will be highly visible during the upcoming festival weekend. Sponsors received their 2011 T-shirts as they left the party. Volunteer T-shirts will be given out this week.

Party guests were treated to beef carpaccio, shrimp on grits cakes, mini-sausage dogs, Shepherd’s Pie, chicken wings, pasta, pizza, and tortilla chips with salsa. Desserts included cakes, cobblers and mini-cupcakes.

Participating restaurants and caterers were Chocolate Perks, Costco, Duluth Rexall Grill, Family Restaurant, Kurt’s Bistro, Park Café, the Payne-Corley House, the Patio, Pure Taqueria, Steverino’s, Stoney River Legendary Steaks, and the Tilted Kilt.

Beverages were donated by Budweiser Eagle Rock, Duluth Fine Wines, Sweetwater Package, and World Beverage. The historic Payne-Corley House was decorated with flowers by Nature’s Elegance. The Michael Robbins Band provided background music.

Despite the tough economy, the festival has recruited 138 sponsors so far this year, emcee Brooks Coleman announced. Kathryn Willis, co-chairman of the festival, reported that $120,000 in sponsorships has been obtained plus in-kind services of $90,000. Wayne Herman is chairing this year’s festival with Willis as co-chair. She will co-chair the 2012 festival.

Coleman revealed that PGA golfer Stewart Cink of Duluth will serve as grand marshal of the festival parade. Duluth native Dr. Miles Mason III of Mason Primary Care will be the honorary grand marshal. Wells Fargo is providing a horse-drawn stagecoach for the parade, Coleman said.

Willis announced that gardening expert Walter Reeves, a personal favorite, will appear on Saturday at the festival.

Festivities at the annual fall event include a parade, almost 400 arts, crafts, sponsor and food booths; live entertainment on the and the Gazebo, a 5K road race, and a children’s activity area. The festival is put on by nearly 50 committees and 400 volunteers. Gold Medal Shows will operate a carnival Sept. 21-25 in conjunction with the festival. For more information about the festival and a full list of sponsors, visit the website.

Proceeds from the festival fund improvements in Downtown Duluth. This year, the festival is paying for a granite marker to be installed where the Eastern Continental Divide crosses the Town Green. The marker, which will be unveiled at 6 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 22, is a cooperative project with the Duluth Downtown Development Authority.