A Taste of Brighton: The Annual Summerfest With a Spin

New for 2013, A Taste of Brighton will give you a “taste” of what downtown Brighton has to offer. 

This is the city’s annual summer sidewalk sales, also known as Summerfest, with a twist. For this event, attendees can experience outdoor shopping, restaurant tastes, live music and an array of entertainment. There are approximately 50 downtown merchants participating, including 17 restaurants. 

The event was thought up by a handful of downtown Brighton merchants with the idea to take Summerfest and make it even bigger. 

“Everyone from the merchants and restaurants to the City, the Chamber, the PSD and everyone in between have worked together to make this event happen,” said Thaddeus McGaffey, financial advisor with Waddell & Reed in downtown Brighton, and head of the event planning committee. 

“This event is for Brighton, by Brighton and about Brighton," he said. "As a collective downtown, we have reinvented our traditional summer festival and sidewalk sales event to showcase what an amazing community we have. The idea is to give everyone a "taste" of what is here, from a huge array of restaurants to the many amazing and unique shops and experiences we have, and I certainly think we will achieve that.”

A Taste of Brighton will take place Friday, July 12 and Saturday, July 13 on Main Street. Restaurant tastes and displays for outdoor shopping will be available 10 a.m. until 10 p.m., and a number of participating restaurants on Grand River will set up on Main Street for the event as well. 

Four stages of live music will be set up 5-10 p.m. both evenings. 

Various entertainment is scheduled for A Taste of Brighton, including the Delirio del Arte jugglers, the Enchanted Statues living statues, and performances by One Spirit Dance & Fitness and PKSA Karate. 

Little ones will have plenty to do in the Kid Zone and Toddler areas, where they will find activities suited to all ages. This includes large inflatables, arts and crafts, book readings, and of course the rock wall that makes an appearance at many of the downtown events. 

Also, Brighton balloon sculptor, Tim Thurmond, will attempt to re-claim his Guinness World Record for the most balloons ever blown up by mouth and made into animals in a 24-hour period. Thurmond held this world record for nearly nine years, and hopes to conjure up roughly 7,000 balloon designs from 5 p.m. July 12 to 5 p.m. July 13 to regain it.                            

“I am excited that we were able to pull this event together with much support from the downtown businesses,” said Allison Austin, owner of the Yum Yum Tree in Brighton and member of the event planning committee. “We have so much planned for the Taste of Brighton, and I can’t wait to see it all come together with lots of great entertainment and unique things to do. It’s going to be fantastic.”

Volunteer opportunities are still available for those interested in being part of this event. 

Information provided in press release.