2013 Taste of Douglasville Award Winners Announced

The Cultural Arts Council of Douglasville/Douglas County is pleased to announce that the following restaurants have received awards for their outstanding contributions during the 2013 Taste for Douglasville Arts:

Most sold – Shane’s Rib Shack

Best Presentation – Fritters Island Soul Restaurant

Best New Restaurant – Shane’s Rib Shack

Better Choice Award – The Irish Bred Pub

Despite early rain this year, the crowds came out under the clouds in historic downtown Douglasville for CAC’s 20th Taste of Douglasville with an estimated 14,000 people enjoying the festival throughout the day. Clearly, the Taste of Douglasville remains the largest and most popular event in Douglas County – and again it was a major tobacco-free event in our community.

There were sixteen participating restaurants including five new restaurants as well as old favorites like Red Lobster, the Olive Garden, Cold Stone Creamery, Johnny’s Pizza, Fabiano’s and Irish Bred Pub. Five restaurants sold more than 1,000 tickets of food with Red Lobster coming in a close second and the Olive Garden third in the Most Sold competition. More arts and crafts vendors participated than ever before; and the Better Living Market proved a sold-out success with 30 booths promoting healthy activities and products to large crowds. There were also two stages of terrific local talent, many more great activities for children, and a wonderful array of sponsors’ booths on O'Neal Plaza.

“We were especially delighted for our 20th annual Taste of Douglasville to have developed a much expanded Kids Korner with more than 15 organizations offering hands-on creative fun in the Art Safari this year,” stated CAC director Laura Lieberman. “Our Art Safari partners (including the Douglas County Extension Office and its 4-H and Junior Master Gardeners, the Junior League, Douglas County Libraries, S.C.R.A.P. Bin, the Water and Sewer Authority, Southeastern Dairy Association and Ft. Valley State University) are already planning even more fun for the 2014 Taste!”

First established as a fundraising event for the Cultural Arts Council by Rhonda Case, former director of the Woodie Fite Senior Center, the Taste of Douglasville festival is the result of thousands of hours of work on the part of hundreds of people in our community every year. This year more than 200 volunteers were involved including: CAC Board members who hosted our third festival kick off with Picnic on the Plaza, a sold-out event catered by Atlanta’s Finest with the Jeni Michelson Jazz Trio performing;  all of the talented individuals who performed on the O'Neal Plaza and Safari Stage under CAC’s Programming Committee Chair and Surf Fest founder Wayne Foster’s direction with Captain Herb Emory and Mark Arnold as Masters of Ceremonies where J.P. Pilkonis and Terry Miller provided technical assistance and on the Safari Stage, coordinated by Paul Douglas Sanner and Robert O’Shaunessey, with Judge Peggy Walker and Traci Sullivan as Masters of Ceremonies; our ticket counters and ticket sellers with a great team from Regions Bank assisting; and especially our 2013 event co-chairs, Omar Daniel and CAC Board Treasurer Renee Kell, and our honorary co-chairs, Sherry Persons and Linda Worthan.  Kevin Livingston and his 4-H volunteers raised money for their activities at our second drink stand by the Second Stage where some of them showcased their talents throughout the afternoon, while the Douglasville Bulls, a college level summer baseball team, sold drinks donated by Coca Cola Enterprises, on O’Neal Plaza.

 “We are so grateful to everyone who worked so hard to make this Taste of Douglasville an outstanding success,” stated CAC Board President Jerry Leath. “Their generosity means so much to the Cultural Arts Council and to the community we serve. The funds raised support cultural programming and arts activities throughout the year. And didn’t we all have a really wonderful time together?  What a great day!”