A Taste of Downtown

If you think you know what A Taste of Downtown is like, think again.  The Cortland Downtown Partnership’s Promotions Committee continues to revamp our annual festivals to make them more inclusive and convenient for the Cortland community.  This year’s Taste runs from noon to five p.m. on Saturday, July 14^th.  Sidewalk Sales begins Thursday and continues through the Saturday Taste of Downtown festival.

A Taste of Downtown is organized to bring entertainment on the final day of the Sidewalk Sales to encourage visitors and community members to shop local and take pride in their downtown. It also commemorates what Historic Downtown Cortland has been and is today. Join us in celebrating and showing support for the heritage and heart of Cortland County.  For $10, you’ll receive a commemorative wine glass and self-guided tasting guide of downtown eateries.  Get downtown early to complete the tasting tour while supplies last and vote for your favorite sample at the Family Fun Zone in Marketplace Mall parking lot.

Beginning in July through the day of the festival, wine glasses and sample tickets are available for purchase during business hours at Jodi’s Hallmark, The Bling Store, or the Cortland Beer Company. Participation is capped, so get your glass and tickets early.  Did you find it difficult last year to juggle your shopping, wine glass, and samples?  Now, thanks to sponsorship from CP Cash & Carry, all sales locations are also selling hands-free wine lanyards for $5 each.  Also for your convenience, our sponsors have funded new “Taste It!” signs that will hang from the doorway of every business offering samples.  They correspond to the markers on your tasting guide map.  Thank you Anne and Sterling J. Planck, and Cortland Carpet Outlet!  Visit us on Facebook to see a full list of samples: “A Taste of Downtown.”

As promised, the Promotions Committee wants every downtown festival to be welcoming and enjoyable for family members of all ages.  New to this year, your tasting guide includes convenient markers signifying which sample locations are kid-friendly environments.  We’ve also put in extra effort to guarantee games and contests for all ages from Cortland Flower Shop’s flower arranging demonstrations and Sustainable Cortland’s the alternative fuel car exhibit at Place Agency on North Main, to the Hula Hoop Troop and Chris Xavier’s cooking demonstrations at the Bling Store as well as live music in front of the Post Office.  The Family Fun Zone will be in full swing with jugglers, balloonists, and games outdoors in the Marketplace Mall parking lot.  Check out our Facebook page: “A Taste of Downtown” to see a full list of scheduled entertainment and attractions.  Music this year was sponsored by McNeil Development Company.