Taste of Cincinnati 2017 by the numbers; record-tying crowd of 550,000 at new location, no major incidents

Cincinnati Police estimate a record-tying crowd of 550,000 attended Taste of Cincinnati, May 27-29 on Fifth Street, downtown, from Main Street to the ramps of I-71 and Columbia Parkway.

Taste of Cincinnati is presented by Budweiser and produced by the Cincinnati USA Regional Chamber.

“The addition of Taste of Findlay Market, a Taste of Cincinnati signature cocktail, an expanded Rhinegeist Food Truck Alley, good weather, and a new, more spacious Fifth Street location helped make Taste of Cincinnati 2017 one of the best ever,” said Jill P. Meyer, president and CEO of the Cincinnati USA Regional Chamber.

The Cincinnati Chamber made a $15,000 donation, at Taste of Cincinnati, to the Findlay Market FoodPreneur Fund. “With this generous donation, Findlay Market and Findlay Kitchen will be able to further provide the support and resources necessary for our food entrepreneurs to successfully start, grow, and scale their businesses,” said Marianne Hamilton, director of Food Innovation for Findlay Market.

Since 2013, the Cincinnati Chamber has donated $80,000 to support regional culinary and entrepreneurial growth.

Cincinnati’s Findlay Market, Ohio’s oldest surviving municipal market house, enjoyed a home away from home inside Taste of Cincinnati. Taste of Findlay Market featured dishes from Findlay Market vendors and “foodpreneurs” from Findlay Kitchen.

Taste of Cincinnati returns for its 40^th year, May 26-28, 2018.

TASTY BITES:

Nearly 75 restaurants, food trucks and entrepreneurs participated in Taste of Cincinnati, offering more than 300 menu items and 100 beer varieties.
44 of the beers offered at Taste of Cincinnati were locally-brewed.
More than 60 percent of Taste of Cincinnati’s 2017 restaurants, food trucks and entrepreneurs were brand new to Taste of Cincinnati.
Over 50 percent of the Taste of Cincinnati vendor businesses were minority-, woman- or immigrant-owned.
19 regional not-for-profit groups raised nearly $70,000 through Cincinnati Chamber donations and your drink tips.
45 musical acts performed throughout the weekend on five stages.
Only one minor police incident was reported.

The Cincinnati USA Regional Chamber serves as a voice for the interests of its 4,000 member businesses and their more than 300,000 employees. The Chamber is committed to expanding the region’s talent base by attracting new residents and finding new ways to connect employers to skilled workers.

For more information, click here www.cincinnatichamber.com.