The annual Taste of Clermont festival is just a few weeks away and this year the festival will feature even more local entertainment and vendors Aug. 10-11.
“There will be a car show, motorcycle show and a new feature ‘Battle of the Bands,’” Terry Morris, president of the Village Association of Batavia, said.
Gary Farmer, who is helping organize musical entertainment said instead of focusing on one or two headline bands this year, they have decided to focus on local bands throughout Clermont County.
“All of the talent that is participating this year is from Clermont County,” Farmer said. “We really wanted to focus on Clermont County this year because it is Taste of Clermont.”
Farmer said a variety of local bands ranging from bluegrass to rock and roll will be playing during the event this year including Spearpoint, Kenny Welch Band, East Fork Junction, Midnight Fire and more.
He said bands will begin playing Friday evening and will play until 11:30 p.m. Saturday.
Between bands, Farmer said there will also be solo performances by local high school musicians and singers. Students from Williamsburg High School, Clermont Northeastern High School and more will be performing.
Saturday will be the Battle of the Bands event. Farmer said the event will feature a competition between the finalists of the Battle of the Bands competition at The Hedge, an all-age music venue in Batavia.
Bands competing will be announced once the preliminary competitions have ended.
“That’s going to be the thing that really makes the Taste of Clermont special this year,” Farmer said about the variety of local music.
Similar to years past, there will be many other activities and entertainment at the Taste of Clermont.
There will be a Kid Zone again this year with rides, blowup games, guitar hero, face painting and other activities for children.
Guests can look forward to a variety of food and beverage vendors serving pulled pork, fresh kettle corn, lemonade, deep fried Oreo’s, corn on the cob and plenty of other food as well as shopping opportunities all along Main Street.
There will also be a ride in and bike show on Friday and a cruise in and car show on Saturday. Farmer said both shows normally draw in a number of participants with many custom pieces for guests to see.
Taste of Clermont, which is organized by the Village Association of Batavia, will be held right in the heart of the village again this year.
Organizers decided to bring it back to the village last year from its previous location in Eastgate and Morris said it was completely different here in the village.
“Everyone was really happy it came back to down town,” Morris said.
He said it was nice seeing Main Street packed with people, and it definitely felt different than having it in a large parking lot in Eastgate.
“It feels much more homey when you’re at a venue where it is more defined,” Morris said. “It has a different look when it is here. The ambiance really says a lot for an event.”
Taste of Clermont will run from 5 p.m. to 11:30 p.m. Aug. 10 and from 11 a.m. to 11:30 p.m. Aug. 11.
Morris said there are still spots for vendors and sponsorship opportunities available.
For more information about the Taste of Clermont visit www.tasteofclermont.com.