Guitar solos and rhythmic horns, chocolate-covered strawberries and hints of summer sunshine characterized the fourth annual Taste of Durham festival Saturday afternoon in Research Triangle Park.
The event was centered around bands representing jazz, Latin, rock, blues, country, folk and Japanese rock musical influences that catered to a range of tastes as wide as those offered by the event's cuisine options.
"We are very deliberate in creating something diverse because Durham is so diverse," said Kimberly Ruskan, founder of The Community Chest, Inc., the nonprofit philanthropic organization that organizes the festival each year. "We strive for regional and national notoriety. Who wants to hear the same old, same old?"
Food vendors provided Italian, Indian, Greek, Cajun and Cuban fares in addition to many American dishes, sweets and local favorites. Other attractions included a family-friendly area with games and rides, an international dance performance tent that offered tango, salsa and Polynesian dancing lessons and international beer and wine tasting pavilions.
The festival has occurred outside the Imperial Center in Research Triangle Park for the past two years. The move from its original location at Brightleaf Square was prompted by inadequate parking, space constraints and added alcohol liability concerns because of the many restaurants nearby, Ruskan said.
Although she does not know exact numbers, Ruskan said there were many more people in attendance this year than at the 2007 event, which drew in a crowd of about 18,000.
Festival-goers, many of whom were first-time attendees from the Triangle area, said they enjoyed the wide range of food and entertainment available. Steve Jack, a member of the band Real Reubens, which played at this year's festival, said he was pleasantly surprised with the venue.
Jack said the festival turn-out exceeded his expectations, especially after he read some negative reviews on the Internet.
"We had a great time and it was great exposure [for the band]," Jack said.
Some guests, including the Veal family of Raleigh, said they liked the festival because of the beautiful weather and the wide range of cultures represented, but said the price of admission-$6 at the door-plus the additional cost of food was a little too high.
Members of the family also said there needed to be better representation of local restaurants, since some of the food vendors were larger chains. Invitations are extended to local restaurants every year, Ruskan said, but the logistics and staffing needed for an outdoor festival such as the Taste of Durham festival are difficult for small businesses.
Durham resident Michelle Sellers said she loved the festival, especially the music. She also praised the cuisine but said she was disappointed that Blu Seafood, which was listed as a vendor online, was not present at the event.
Toward the end of the day, some attendees said they were frustrated that some food and beer vendors had already run out of refreshments.
"The food was great and we've had lots of fun," said members of the Veal family. "But we think that next year, vendors should be more prepared. It was disappointing that they ran out of food early."
The Taste of Durham festival, which gained recognition from Bon Appetit magazine in its May edition, is organized in a way that highlights the arts and cultural experience, Ruskan said. She added, however, that she also focused highly on Durham as a community in planning the event.
"The 'community chest' is the model we go for when we do the Taste of Durham," Ruskan said. "There's communities within communities.... People pay attention to detail. We want to make you feel like a million bucks."
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