By Shayna Mace | Photo courtesy Taste of Madison
Taste of Madison hits the Capitol Square once again from Aug. 31-Sept. 1. This year, the free food and live music festival features over 90 restaurants — the most the festival has ever had.
Although you’ll see the usual cheese curds, tacos, pork sliders and mac ‘n’ cheese, the festival celebrates Madison’s worldly palate. This year attendees can sample Café Costa Rica Mango Man Cooks’ sweet plantains, Buraka’s dorowot (spicy chicken stew), Culinaynirvana’s kimchi curds, Glazed’s mochi donuts and much, much more.
Post-festival, Taste of Madison works with local food pantries and shelters, such as The River Food Pantry, to donate surplus food and supplies.
Fun Facts:
- 30: Number of women-owned restaurants at the festival this year.
- 42: Number of years Taste of Madison has been around.
- 500-600: Number of volunteers that help out at the event, which are part of 30-plus volunteer groups.
- $86,000: Average amount of money donated to nonprofits that help work the event.
- 250,000: Average number of attendees every year.
- $2.3 million: Amount of money Madison Festivals, which puts on Taste of Madison, has donated back to local nonprofits since 1995.
