Third annual 'Taste of RC' is July 19
By BILL RICHMOND
City editor
The third annual A Taste of Randolph County restaurant sampler and art and craft show is Saturday, July 19 on the courthouse square, downtown Winchester. The arts and crafts festival is 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., food booths will be open from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Activities on the square will kick off with the Winchester Main Street farmers market from 8 a.m. until noon.
An assortment of local restaurants will have miniature-sized entrees available at reduced prices. The smaller-sized portions mean attendees can try an assortment of items without feeling too filled up. Items available will likely include salads, sandwiches, ice cream, desserts and flavored coffees - all at $1 or $2 each.
Arts and crafts booths will include oil, acrylic and water color paintings, small furniture, household items, Americana-style home decorations, jewelry, wooden bowls, glass beads and beaded jewelry.
Craft show organizer Frank Knasinski said an estimated 1,500 people visited the Taste of Randolph County booths and exhibits at last year's show. He is confident that number will increase for this year's event.
"The festival continues to grow little by little," Knasinski said. "It's a growth process. Through increased advertisement, we're hoping to see more people attend from outside the county."
Restaurant sampler organizer Anne Riddle said they continue to add new vendors every year while maintaining participation from many of the original merchants.
"We have vendors who are aware of the festival's potential and keep coming back," Knasinski said. "Many people from larger cities in the area say they like the more relaxed setting and slower pace. It's sort of become our motto: 'Visit us once and you will want to come again.'"
He said with all the activities that are going on in Randolph County the weekend of July 18-20 (including a race at Winchester Speedway, a car show and the Aloha International Steel Guitar Convention) people from outside the area may want to car pool or charter a bus for a day trip to Randolph County. Lodgings at Randolph Inn and Suites or the Winchester Inn bed and breakfast allow people from outside the area to turn such events into a two or three day mini-vacation.
Area musicians performing at the festival include: Dan and Me from 10-11 a.m.; The McCoy Boys, 11 a.m. - noon; Scherry Denny, noon - 1 p.m.; Voices of Zion: Reney and Cathy Shaneyfelt and Barbie Salazar, 1-2 p.m.; Kaylee Hawley, 2-3 p.m.; Tom Cox, 3-4 p.m.
Art and craft booths will be on the north side courthouse lawn, food vendors will be on the south law. Musicians will perform on the southeast corner of the square and the farmers market will be on the west side of the square.
Winchester Main Street in 2003 and 2004 sponsored A Taste of Winchester on the courthouse square. At "The Taste" - as it was called - local restaurants provided signature menu items at discounted prices so people could sample a variety of delicacies available in the area. Organizers in 2006 decided to expand the event by also including arts and crafts as well as musical entertainment.
For more information, contact Frank Knasinski at (765) 584-7061 or Anne Riddle at (765) 584-4585. Tracy Cox is in charge of musical entertainment for the event.
