Taste of Punta Gorda
The 17th annual Taste of Punta Gorda is on Sunday, March 2, from 11 AM to 5 PM at Laishley Park in Punta Gorda. The Taste receives terrific support from local restaurants, businesses, and the community and is the Punta Gorda Rotary Club Charity and Education Foundation’s major annual fundraiser. Publix Super Market is proud to be the Taste's presenting sponsor. Other sponsors are Ingman Marine, Bankers Life Insurance, Suncoast Credit Union, SYSCO, Suncoast Beverages, Affordable Carts, Parlade Schaefer and Schortz CPAS, and Amerilife.
The Taste supports local students and charitable organizations in Punta Gorda and Charlotte County and wherever Rotary does good work. Proceeds of the Taste--about $50,000 per year--are distributed to local charities. Recent recipients have included Peace River Wildlife, Samaritan’s Purse, Punta Gorda Police Department, Honor Flight of SWFL, Charlotte HS Project Graduation, Habitat for Humanity, the Punta Gorda Historical Society, the Military Heritage Museum, Valerie's House, the Botanical Gardens, Water4Life Mozambique, St. Thomassique Medical Clinic in Haiti, and Backpack for Kidz.
Festival tickets are $10 for adults and kids 12 and up and free for kids under 12. Folks giving extra support to Rotary's work can purchase VIP Rotary Angel Tickets for $50. Tickets are available at the gate, and advanced sale tickets are online at https://www.eventbrite.com/e/taste-of-punta-gorda-and-beyond-2025-tickets-1114057769779.
At the last Taste, 5,000 people sampled the best dishes offered by almost 30 local restaurants and food trucks. This year’s Taste is reaching out to restaurants in Punta Gorda and Port Charlotte so they can have the opportunity to promote their businesses by serving “tastes” of their signature dishes. Some of the participants include Wally’s Southern Style BBQ, the Metro Diner, Amimoto Japanese Restaurant, The Tamiami Tavern, Mint Thai Cuisine, Brother’s Fish House, Dean’s South of the Border, the Coronation [Jamaican] Take Out, UnWined Wine Bar and Restaurant, and Sughar Rays Caribbean.
Be sure to bring ones and five’s to purchase restaurant “tastes”. An ATM will be on site!
In addition to great food, attendees over 70 vendors of all types will sell arts and crafts, ice cream and other desserts, lemonade, specialty ice drinks, beer, wine, and more. Among several local nonprofits displaying and talking about their services to our community will be Octagon Wildlife Refuge, the Peace River Wildlife Center, the Charlotte Harbor Environmental Center, and Southwest Honor Flights.
While their parents are relishing restaurants and vendors, kids of all ages can enjoy the Kids Fun Zone, which features bounce houses, rock climbing, stealth laser tag, and other interactive activities. The Punta Gorda Police Department’s Community Trailer will be present as well.
New this year, the Taste will feature two great Southwest Florida bands. The Marker 5 Band will kick off the day, and Deb and the Dynamics will entertain everyone through the afternoon. So bring your camp chair with you.
Event Links
Tickets: https://go.evvnt.com/2845506-0
Website: https://go.evvnt.com/2845506-2
