September 7th was Taste of Downtown, taking place in Chico during the morning and evening hours; allowing many people to taste local restaurants downtown and experience the wonder of native cuisine. International Brazil Day, a day marking Brazil’s independence from Portuguese rule, was also celebrated on September 7th. Various vendors sold traditional clothing and traditional tea, with Taste Of Downtown allowing for greater foot traffic and awareness to this special day.
From 11 AM to 5:30 PM, Taste of Downtown was celebrated. Restaurants participating included Woodstock’s Pizza, the mayor’s Schubert’s Ice Cream and Candy, and the family-owned restaurant, Mom’s. When a ticket was purchased, these businesses allowed for free samples such as a slice of pizza, a scoop of ice cream, or more. In accordance with the event, there were also local bands, such as Monkey Wrench, playing some great music. The music elevated the event into something great; the drums could be heard across the whole of downtown, and a mixture of Brazilian folk music was also incorporated to tie in with International Brazil Day. When in the city plaza, it was truly a sight to behold.
By the city plaza there were also local street vendors. Many of these vendors sold traditional Brazilian goods such as delicious tea, beautiful clothing, or one-of-a-kind jewelry. When asked about it, one of these vendors said that “they have been doing this for years,“ and that the “two events in one day made their tea really popular”. And after tasting some of their tea, I can see why it is so popular, the hibiscus flavor is amazing. There were other street vendors in addition to those for International Brazil Day, such as IKO Ceramics. When asked, one of the IKO Ceramics vendors said “this is my first time doing this, but so far it’s pretty nice“. The other vendor there said “there’s a lot of foot traffic because of the line, and that’s really beneficial for business“. Because of the multiple events going on, and the crowd that Taste of Downtown caused, it allowed for businesses, even ones not directly participating, to grow. Throughout the evening, these vendors sold more goods and got more foot traffic. All along the way, locals got to enjoy beautiful food and creations both locally and in Brazilian style.
As the evening arrived, the crowd slowly got quieter and quieter, and the drums died down. Businesses gave away more and more delicious food, and local vendors left. The sun was beautiful, people were happy, and the local economy got a boost. At the end of the day, the event went incredibly well. Students at Pleasant Valley High School, if they bought a ticket, were able to eat 8 free meals along with their family or friends. One thing is for sure, the next Taste of Downtown will be equally, if not more, fantastic.
