The Taste of Bloomington has been cancelled this year.
In a press release Wednesday announcing the decision, the organizing committee cited increased supply costs, labor shortages and effects of the pandemic as reasons.
Talisha Coppock, volunteer co-chair of Taste of Bloomington, said the committee faced several different hurdles, cost and vendor difficulties.
“We got through that hurdle,” Coppock said. “But, you know, overall prices were like about 25%, higher and in all areas.”
Coppock said the committee would have needed to increase the cost of admission and beverages and they knew the cost of food would be higher.
“It is a fundraiser for multiple different organizations,” Coppock said. “And so we thought, ‘Well, I think people understand this.’”
Additionally, personnel turnover among past participants meant some weren’t used to the event.
“It's a big event planted right in the middle of their daily lives,” Coppock said.
She said the committee spent a lot of time walking people through how to do the Taste of Bloomington.
Over the last several years, Coppock said restaurants have faced staffing problems, inflation, and delivery issues.
Coppock said the committee received strong interest from participants but would have had fewer restaurants than in the past.
A month before the event, Taste of Bloomington’s beer vendor, Best Beers, said it would change how the beer tents were operated to comply with new state alcoholic beverage regulations.
“They didn't go into effect until next year, but they really wanted to, you know, just stay above board.” Coppock said.
Last week, Coppock said she thought Best Beers realized that it would be unable to do the event in a quality manner, follow regulations and ensure a profit margin.
“We did look at a few other vendors to see if anything would happen and be able to happen with that, but there just wasn't time to pull that together,” Coppock said.
Coppock said the committee wanted people to know that it always tries to host a quality experience.
According to the press release, those who purchased advanced tickets will be refunded by the end of the month and the committee hopes to bring the event back in 2023.
