This hurts my heart, it really does. You'll need context here so let me take you back twenty plus years when I was just a wee girl visiting with my family. There was no cost to enter and the festival was so big. Being at the huge YMCA building there was so much food, entertainment and booths. Today? It's a quarter of the size, only 10 choices for food and only two were local. Three quarters of the small space was the beer garden. Absolutely ridiculous how big it was. But the worst part, it was a 90 degree day and we couldn't bring in water. After I paid 25 to get in (only to purchase food separately) I had to dump out my water and told to purchase more for 3 bucks a bottle. The area has these haphazard fences that were ugly and dangerous. As I was attempting to get to the food truck one of the raised gates caught my toenail and ripped it clean off. Ouch. No first aid tent though, so the bike medica did what they could but I had to hobble around this tiny place (I had my daughter so we couldn't go in the beer garden and area much too old for the bounce houses) looking off shade to days my rather pricy food. Two stars only because the food was absolutely incredible considering. read more

Taste of Edmonds - My toenail free foot. - Festivals Near Me - Edmonds, Washington

My last time to the Taste of Edmonds, over a decade ago (writing this on Saturday 4 November 2023), I came with a friend to explore the different offerings. Different vendors had different stalls and it was a mix of local-based offerings and larger chains with a location not too far away from the Taste of Edmonds site. We came on the early side and the place was already busy, parking was a little bit of a walk. Prices were a mix, it really depended on what one was looking to get and where from. While it was a lot of people, it was a good type of busy where people were absorbed in the offerings, deciding on what to get and not get, and tasting what they ultimately went with. No one was really prying and the vendors were alert and ready to answer questions. Wait times once the order(s) were placed were on the quicker side. read more

I'm thrilled that the Taste of Edmonds is conveniently located nearby! Whether you're looking for a one-day or three-day experience, there's an impressive variety of good food, music, games, and a chance to enjoy in the splendid summer weather. I'm absolutely loving it read more

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Taste of Edmonds has drastically gone downhill at a high rate of speed. I grew up in Edmonds and look forward to this event every year but not sure what the hell happened this year. 1. The cost is $25.00 bucks to get in!!! It used to be FREE. Then it was by donation. Then it was a couple of bucks. That was okay, but now $25.00 is over the top ridiculous! 2. The space - what is up from moving it from the huge field to the back of the Edmonds library??? It is about the quarter of the size it used to be! So lame! 3. Vendors - There used to be 2 long rows of vendors selling everything from purses, make up, jewelry, home goods, etc. All they had was a very strange set up with just a handful booths that was separate from the event called the Makers Market. It was very bland and boring. It was like a ghost town. No one else was apparently interested in what they were selling either. 4. Food Trucks were the major disappointment!! What happened to ALL THE FAIR FOOD TRUCKS? They had only like six trucks set up at the top of the hill then a few inside with their so-called Top Chef selections! What a joke. The first two Top Chef trucks were both selling PORK BELLY in different forms and the third one was just a burger! No selection, no creativity. Where was the Kaleenka Pirosky truck that is there EVERY YEAR??? The other food truck choices were not good at all and not worth paying the high prices after paying $25 to get in. We actually left the event to go buy food down the street at the Fish Market restaurant before the band I wanted to see started. I really enjoyed the Fleetwood Mac band but the others that played were just okay. I do like that there is grass you can sit on to watch the bands instead of just standing on cement like in the other venue. I did not purchase any alcohol but I'm assuming that it was just be overpriced like everything else there. Whoever is in charge of running this event should definitely rethink how to make it cool and fun like it once was!! Because this year was a big TANK and I'm sure I'm not the only one who has this opinion. read more

It's crazy they charge anything to get in, the only reason to pay anything, is if you love one of the bands playing, then I guess it's sort of like micro bumbershoot. Otherwise you are paying 25$ for the opportunity to buy 15$ food from truck you will wait in line 20-30 min at in the sun, to then sit on the ground or stand up to eat, while listening to very loud music you don't like.... There was a bounce house and small mini golf course, so if you are a kid, there's that.... It's basically like the Edmonds art festival, but with none of the art. Just a few food vendors, and a high price to get in. I wouldn't even return if it was free... read more

- Edmonds is charging $32 per person and $20 for children. Is it worth it? Dirty, dusty and way overpriced. You also pay for everything once you are inside, including things for kids. Edmonds collects 10.5% Tax, which is higher than ANY City in California. Beverly Hills is 9.5% and West Hollywood 10.25%. Edmonds officials say it is to host other events, however, every event brings in many extra tax dollars on it's own, and at 10.5% rate Edmonds has the highest tax on the entire West Coast. Where is the money? read more

$25.00 Admission??? Really? Then you have to pay for overpriced food and drink! What a deal! Not. Very loud horrible music, bouncy houses and a few food trucks and venues. I used to go to this BITD and it was either free, or a few bucks to get in, with decent music and a great selection of places to eat and try new things. It is not that anymore. Will not be back. read more

Please do not bother if you are with kids. $25 each adult (2 of us) $10 for child, It was 6:30pm noone warned us all the kid stuff was either done or shutting down. $60 and 45 minutes soggy $12 fries in the trash so upset We would have stayed and listened to music but the beer garden takes all prime real estate. There was an adult having their face painted, but unfortunately they were closed for children for the evening. What an expensive disappointing 45 minutes. read more

Very disappointed this year. We have attended for at least the last ten years for an opportunity to have the elephant ears and a gyro form Kafe Neo. It's understandable that costs escalate, but this year was a shock. We paid $40 for the two of us to see a small sample of the food vendors none of which sold elephant ears or gyros. The entire venue was far smaller than in previous years with half of the booths (and considerably more cost). We turned around and left and felt that at least we donated to the Chamber of Commerce. There's a lot of damage control to do if this is ever to be close to the success it enjoyed in previous years. The Mill Creek festival had no entrance fee and the beer tent with band, was free as well, consequently it was a very successful event. We're done with the Edmonds bite! read more

For $64 plus the cost of food... 6 food trucks and 3 tables inside- NOT the Taste of Edmonds. If you're into corn hole, beer garden, terrible music and a bouncy house by all means go. read more

I love to support local. $25 entry is over the top expensive. From past reviews, it looks like it was $3 in 2022. We opted not to pay this ridiculous fee to buy from food trucks. read more

I just moved to Edmonds and was excited to try this event which I thought would be like a mini Bite of Seattle. I was sadly mistaken and won't be fooled into going again anytime soon. Of the half a dozen food trucks, only a couple were from the Edmonds area. The great food we have here (Bar Dojo, Salt & Iron, Arnie's, Anthony's, Epulo, Demetries) was not represented. The scheduled music talent was not even remotely inclusive. The only activity was cornhole -- which was fun, but maybe a couple more options? All said, I give this event a -- Pretty sucky! read more

I've lived here all of my life and this was THE WORST Taste of Edmonds ever! No local restaurants were featured, just a couple of food trucks. Paid $30 to get in for nothing. Hated the venue at the Francis Anderson Center. It was so tiny. A total joke. I will NEVER BE BACK. Chamber of Commerce get your shit together!! read more

13 of us went to this event. The entrance fee SO EXPENSIVE and is WAY too high for what is provided. Very poor layout of the event. Families with kids under 21 cannot enjoy the main stage events or area containing the corn hole tournament. Food and beverages were very expensive and only two beers on tap. Was MOST dissapointing. The City of Edmonds is great - go see other things for less money. This was a waste of time and money. Won't ever go again. I rarely leave a poor review on anything, but the Tasteedmonds left a very bad taste for me. read more

I take my girls here ever year. Since kids (I think 12 and under) get in free, all of us get in for $3. There is free crafts for the kids and enough entertainment that I can keep them away from the tickets inflatables (which I think having to pay for is absurd). There has never been a lot of restaurants from Edmonds. But then the Bite of Seattle doesn't really introduce you to restaurants in Seattle like it used to back in the day. You go to The Bite and the longest lines are for vendors that just do fairs and such, don't even have an establishment you can go to (Corn on Cob, Espi's, Curly Fries/Elephant Ear/Funnel Cakes). I think people WANT fair food, so fair food is what they are given. I did stop by e.pu.lo and get some banana bread pudding with salted caramel sauce. Was OK. I assume it's better in the restaurant. My beef with the Taste of Edmonds is two different things. FIRST the location. They do it on a field with everyone walking on a dirt track. It kicks up a TON of dust and whatever you're wearing on your feet (and stroller if you brought it) ends up covered in this nasty dust. Second, EVERY YEAR there is a man with a hose spraying people as they walk by to "keep cool". Listen here, if I wanted to be sprayed I would tell you. So would the rest of the people. Stop pissing people off by spraying them when they're not looking. If parking is a hassle you can always park at Edmonds Woodway and catch the free shuttle (er, school buses) that take you down every 15 minutes. They drop you right at the entrance and then return you to the parking lot when you're finished. In the end it isn't The Bite - but then it isn't trying to be. read more

Oh - Taste of Edmonds - what happened? YIKES. As an Edmonds native I used to like the Taste of Edmonds. I used to go every year. This was my first time in ten years because we moved to LA. Having just moved back we were excited to go the Taste. And it is a MESS. I hate having to pay $8 for us to just get in. They started charging admission years ago and I still don't like it. I also hate that you feel locked in a cage because there are fences surrounding the entire area, But the worst part now is how they set it up. You feel like cattle. You are forced to walk a path and it is so crowded and unpleasant. There are few if any areas to sit and eat. It was just really terrible. Why would they choose to set up the food vendors around a dusty track??? So then when there is a long line in front of a stall no one can get by because the area to walk is so narrow. And Kafe Neo - why were you using frozen gyro meat on your gyros? The kind that is pre-formed in perfectly shaped slabs and have no flavor. Come on. Then I got my Kaleenka Piroshky (delicious) to take home and then I just wanted to get the heck out of there. I really hope they change the set up or I will skip it from now on. Which would be sad - because I used to really like the Taste. read more

I've been coming to the Taste of Edmonds (now, Taste Edmonds) for over a decade, and I think 2018 is the last year I'll go. They've tried to make improvements, paired back the food options, lower admission price, etc. but this event is still not working. First off, we had to wait in line for 10+ minutes to pay the $3 admission price, which totaled $9 for the 3 of us just to enter the (dirty, dusty) grounds. Secondly, the event is lined with sales people aggressively trying to speak to you, give you samples of products you don't want, asking you about your gutters, windows, etc. it's a challenge just to look down and not make eye contact. Yeah right, I came to the Taste Of Edmonds, paid $3 admission, to talk to you about my windows. The food options are basically fair food. I spotted only one local restaurant, Cafe Neo (great food by the way, check them out). Other local restaurants were notably absent this year, including Scott's Bar & Grill (which I remember really enjoying their pea salad at the Taste of Edmonds 2017). Besides all the fair concession food, there were a couple of food trucks, including a Korean place that looked tasty, but had a 30+ minutes line to stand in, and a Mac N Cheese truck that looked innovative and popular. The live music was good. I'm over this event. read more

I must say that I enjoyed the Taste of Edmonds much more this year. There seemed to be more variety in their shopping selections; fewer of those bland informational booths and businesses selling massed produced junk. I found a really cool ginormous agate ring. This could really be a premier event (especially because of its location), if they would just be more selective in their jurying. Food was about the same. I usually default to Café Neo and had a gyro which was tasty. Hub had a sausage potato dish from a piroshky place that I found repugnant, but he said it was okay...he is much nicer than I. This year I came especially to hear a band that was there last year: Coco Loco. They were wonderful...made you want to get up and salsa your buns off. (Although, I missed the trombonist who was not there this year :( Coco Loco: http://cocolocohome.com/ Nice weather...everyone had a great time. read more

Taste of Edmonds - Coco Loco salsa band at Taste of Edmonds - Festivals Near Me - Edmonds, Washington

This was more like a small fair than a taste of anything. You are charged at the door to get in, walk down a row of crafty items, then onto the sales row where you feel like prey, and finally to the civic area where the food vendors are held. This was a dirt area with tables, a stage, and kids bouce houses. I would not go back. read more

Taste of Edmonds - Festivals Near Me - Edmonds, Washington

Probably the most disappointed I have felt about a food event that is at an outdoor venue in a long time: Negative 1 star because of being set at an outdoor location why would you not allow pets? I have been to plenty of food rodeos hosted in the Seattle area and I have brought my dog to them?! Puzzled Edmonds - do you not like dogs? Last time I come to a "Taste of Edmonds" and you have to pay to enter? read more

Went Friday night only six food trucks over priced no place to sit , $10 corndog $10 lemonade not what do you expect for a food festival , $20 to get in lame. read more

This event needs to be renamed to "Tasteless in Edmonds" This review is mostly negative but I do mention a few good things we found. The first problem was the entry fee. Paying money to have the privilege of buying stuff is a poor policy. Also there was zero control of the money at the gate. No tickets, no receipts, just hand us some cash and you walk in. I would be very surprised if their was not some fraud going on here. Then there was being forced to walk the zig zag gauntlet of crappy vendors, some of whom were quite pushy. What makes them think I have come to an event called the taste of Edmonds to get shouted at asking if I need new gutters? There were a few good artisans sprinkled in here and there but overall most were really annoying hucksters or corporate advertisers. Having finally made it to the food area we were dismayed at the abysmal selection circled around a muddy ( and later in the day dusty) dirt track. There was only one or two real restaurants represented and almost none of them were offering sample sized (tapas) meals, just full meals. The rest were mostly fair venues selling horrible fried foods (with some having workers smoking cigarettes over them while they prepared it). One of the most interesting food vendors was a family selling Mandarin food called "The Insatiable Cat" but when asked, I found out they are unable to afford opening a restaurant. (too bad) I have given this event one star because this event was a complete failure as to what it is supposed to be about, sampling good food from various local eateries. I will give a shout out to Scotty's for being there and offering nice small portions with a variety of appetizing menu samplers. If only there had been many more like them! read more

Ok, so I am writing this review from a vendor's standpoint. I am normally a vendor at the Edmonds Farmers Market and I do great at it. So, being in the same town, in the exact same area, I (mistakenly) assumed that this would be a great event for me. Oh, how I was mistaken!Here is what I learned: 1. Almost no one who lives in downtown Edmonds actually GOES to this event. I really felt like I was working the Puyallup Fair (enough said). 2. As mentioned before, the food is all located around a dirt track. I saw a constant haze of dirt in the air the whole time. 3. I didn't see a single nice restaurant there. All of the food vendors that I saw were fair food vendors (from deep fried PB&J to elephant ears). Not my choice of good eats! 4. After a nice setup experience, I never once saw anyone from the event checking up on things. 5. The line to the beer garden was insane. Waiting forever to get in to buy some overpriced beers is not my idea of a good time. 6. I was in the crafters section, and all around me were car dealers, gutter companies, etc. Very few crafters and therefore no motivation for people to come shop. Lesson learned. Next year I'm staying very clear of this as a vendor or a patron. read more

This is, like the Bite of Seattle, more like a huge fair where vendors such as Best Buy and GEICO try to sell you things with fair food such as overpriced fried dough and corndogs. Not a big fan of this stuff since I really expected, once again, mostly local food. However, the Taste of Edmonds has two major things over the Bite of Seattle. 1 - It is much more comfortable to walk around here. Granted, I went on Friday afternoon and it will probably be much more crowded tomorrow, but overall I was much happier not having to push through crowds. Part of this is, I'd guess, due to the $3 entrance fee. I'm not really sure that this place is worth the $3, though... 2 - The local artists, chefs, bakers, craftsmen and such were mostly really, really friendly and there were quite a lot of folks selling real, honest locally made goods. Sure, there were tons of people advertising for the casino or selling you insurance or trying to get you to buy new siding for your house---it was sad to see that the non-food vendor list with thrice as long as the food vendor list for the TASTE of Edmonds---but there were also many local artists who were selling their crafts and small businesses selling delicious candies and such. Overall, I had a good time with some of the booths (the guy selling copper jewelry, for example, was really friendly and so were the fudge people) and the food that I got was actually okay. It was a nice little jaunt though I doubt I will make an effort to do this ever again. read more

Always have a great time in the beer garden Sad that most of the food is carnival type food. Wish that some of the local restaurants would participate more. Lots of vendors but similar rio what you'd funds at the fair. Still a great time! read more

Used to go every year because it's close by and small enough for half-day activity. This is not a pet-friendly event, It's a shame I can't attend this event unless their policy changes Not sure why because the ground you walk on it mostly dirt and grass. read more

For the last few years I've been to a lot of regional festivals as a vendor. I also make it a point to walk around and survey everything and I can honestly say this is one of the better festivals from a consumer point of view. I don't like the $3 entrance fee and there are plenty of sponsor booths, but there are 38 food vendor booths, lots of activities for families, music (which tends to be pretty hard core) and other activities. There are corporate vendors there but there are also many from the area serving ice cream, frozen custard, sausages, homemade pizza, etc. Compared to festivals like the Taste of Tacoma, where there are almost no local vendors and commercial vendors have multiple booths, this festival seems kind of quaint. As a vendor, I find that many customers are very friendly and want to know about our products and generally seem to be having a good time. The crowd density is also way less than some of the larger festivals like The Bite of Seattle. It's a pretty fun place to be and I hope it continues on for another 30 years. read more

We love the Tast of Edmonds, we do not compare it to others. We have lived in Edmonds for 17 years, it is walking distance they have live bands and lots of food vendors as well as things to purchase. It is not a large fair as Downtown Edmonds is small. They will stamp your hand so you can leave and browse around downtown which is alot of fun and then return to the fair again. There is always parking we walk down from main street and there is always parking there. I like the fact that it is different from year to year, and we can listen to the band from our deck. Its a place where alot of locals go and get together for some fun. read more

Lame!!! I am really disappointed. I grew up in Edmonds, have been to this many times and.......the only really good headliner for music was Sir Mix A Lot..........and of course the usual drunks were there to watch in their belligerantism....lol Since it was the TASTE of Edmonds, I was trying to figure out how come there were hardly any restaurants from Edmonds participating and mostly vendors, etc that I have seen at other places...... read more

Calling it "Taste of Edmonds" is really false advertising. It's just a collection of commercial vendors and fair food. There are only two local restaurants in the food area. Rather than pay $6 for a Bud in the beer garden, why not spend a pleasant hour sipping a microbrew on the deck at Rory's. read more

Could not agree more with Wing M.. I just moved back to Edmonds from NV and having grown up in Edmonds was really disappointed with this years event. It's downright offensive to be hearded like cattle with no way out past dozens of boths of non local vendors trying to sell you anything they can. Suggestion? Put all the booths in the big field area and let patrons choose which booths they would like to walk by...Next year? Maybe... read more

Really should be free if it is mostly commercial vendors wanting to sell items to you. The same vendors at Mill Creek's festival a couple of weeks earlier and it was free. Not really entertaining or worth the price of admission. Arnies had a great a food booth with salmon tacos for 5 dollars. But right next to it was someone selling lemonade for 5 dollars for 32 ounces. A lot of the food vendors were overpriced. The music was some young kids getting some experience playing before a small group. read more

Worst ever. Like the previous review for 2011, for 2012 it is still the same. Nothing but commercial vendors but you need to pay $3 to get in. Don't waste your money. I heard night time is better with music and beer garden but I don't drink. Edmond's Saturday market is free and much much better. BYW, I am upset that they skipped Saturday market this Saturday (11th) to have the Taste of Edmonds....... read more

There in towns' center at a tours guides offices to find Taste or Bite fair with a small circle of booths around a arena area and organized by the city commerce, but respect once to entry! Foods booths did vary most and really professional for international flavors,yet not the rows 'honey pots' typical in country. Shows may exist on times set sometimes, but added now a climbers chimney! You get packs from booths plus to try wellness events later, or buy crafts off artist's booths! read more

Worst year ever. The layout was terrible and the food setup on a dirt field was so unappetizing we actually went home to eat (i'm sure next year this aspect will be improved once the field remodel is completed). If that were the only issue I would likely not even write this review. Unfortunately, it seemed like a lot of junk vendors. I saw multiple booths with tee shirt's out at the front with profanity and Disney characters smoking weed out of an apple. This is an event that brings in many children. I am personally embarrassed that my lovely home town put this event on. The worst. read more

Been to this festival almost every year sense it started. $3 to get in is more than fair but ends there. Food booths are in this dirt field with tables set up on dirt that is in the air and gets into your mouth. Want to have a cold beer or glass of wine on a hot day with your food (or sit in none dirt area) or even see all that is offered at two or three food trucks you must pay $6. to enter area where this items are provided? True this is area where bands are playing which I enjoy so I see there motive but this is not working for all. Chamber give this job back to the professionals and get back to your good work with the community. read more

YIKES!!! $3.00 to get in, $5.00 to park, yes we could of taken the hot, steamy germ ladden over crowded screamin' child bus, so maybe I shouldn't say anything about the parking fee, so strike that remark on parking. There was only 2 local restaurants featured, so it could of been Vendor's from all around come to Edmonds. The rest was fair food. The artist and salespeople, all seemed really commercial this year and not a lot of mom and pop stand. The feel was not local home town but let's make money. The bummer was a lot of smoker's and there was plenty of no smoking signs. The roasted corn was good but for 4 bucks? Scotty's Northwest stand has always been good with bbq salmon and cesar salad, this year it was steamed and the salad soggy. Kafe Neo's Beef/Lamb Gyro was better here though than at their restaurant (which I reviewed as well), ironic eh? All in all a lot of folks were there and not a lot of tasting it was meal sized portions and most cost 7.00 bucks and up. Note to sandal wearer's, very dusty and grimey for the toes and shoes. We'll see if we go again. read more

I like going to the Taste of Edmonds even if the food isn't really from Edmonds. It's just another excuse for a fair and this one is pretty decent. And since I only live 4 blocks away, it's an easy walk as well. And the setup is great for walking around, there are always some freebies, and it's fun running into people you know. So we were drawn into the beer garden this year to see Sir Mix-a-lot and he wasn't all that great (kinda sounded like a goth version of "big butts"). But a funny thing happened... while we were waiting for Mix, my husband laughs and says "hey look at Rod Stewart over there". Just a few feet away is this dude that looks like Rod but he was just hanging out in the beer garden with nobody swarming him or anything. We laughed it off and kept waiting for the main attraction. Come to find out a few days later that it actually WAS Rod Stewart and he even performed at one of the other venues. So why are all these stars (past stars?) drawn to our little "Taste of Edmonds"? Maybe cuz it's such a cool town to hang out in :) read more

Cover charge?! I'm guessing to pay for the same music they've been booking for years. Snooze. Overpriced, Fair food, and way too many non-food vendors. Don't bother. read more

This was my first, and last time going! It was not wheel chair friendly at all. The front gate volunteers were not friendly, helpful and were uninformed about handicap parking. It was a complete waste of the $3 entry fee when all that was available were booths for business promotion and very over priced fair food. I can't believe I paid to see car dealers showing new cars...along with xfinity trying to sign me up, etc. My 86 yr old wheel chair companion was denied access to the wine area because she doesn't have a drivers license. read more