If you’re looking for a fun (and tasty) way to support your local community, look no further than the Taste of Bigfork on April 28 from 2 to 5 p.m. 

This year’s theme is “Building a Stronger Community, One Bite at a Time.”

According to Bruce Solberg of the Bigfork Chamber of Commerce, proceeds from the event support different local community organizations each year.

“Flathead Habitat for Humanity benefits most years, as well as the Chamber,” Solberg said. “This year, we’re also giving money to the Bigfork school cross-country and soccer programs because they need a little help.”

Solberg said last year’s event raised about $5,000 after expenses.

“Habitat gets the bulk of the money,” Solberg said. “I’d say about half to two-thirds goes to them and the rest is split between the Chamber of Commerce and whatever other charities we’re sponsoring that year.”

Tickets are $40 per person and Solberg said the event justifies the cost.

“It may sound at the onset as a bit much, but we’ve got 20 chefs this year, and they’re all paired with beer and wine,” Solberg said. “Ticket holders can visit all the chefs and taste their delectable creations and the paired beverages. You can move on and try something different or you can come back for seconds.”

Although Solberg said he doesn’t have a set menu for what will be served at each location, he said people could expect old favorites as well as new treats.

“We’ve got such a large variety to choose from, and there are some new entries this year,” Solberg said. “It’s a lot of fun. Most of the entries are bite-size so you can grab and go or grab another one and stay. We have so many crowd favorites. Laughing Horse Lodge is always very popular and we’ve got homemade ice cream at ShowThyme. Moroldo’s will be there with authentic Italian food; the list goes on and on.”

The event will be held regardless of the weather. Patrons can sample cuisine at locations from Brookies Cookies on Electric Avenue around the corner to ShowThyme. While much of the event will be outdoors, Solberg said several chefs would be grouped together in various restaurants.

“In the past several years the weather has been beautiful and we’re expecting the same this year,” Solberg said. “In addition to the food and drinks, there will be live music scattered throughout the area so you can eat, drink and socialize.”

After the event, festivities continue at the Garden Bar in downtown Bigfork for a charity raffle including gift certificates, preserves, fudge, bottles of wine and other items from local businesses. All the raffle items, as well as all the food and drink during the event are donated by area businesses, with proceeds going to charities.

“We’ve got a real variety of items in the raffle this year,” Solberg said. 

“It would not be possible to do this without the generosity of the chefs giving their time and goods, and the businesses donating raffle items. We’ve got people that come here every year from Condon or Polson and just all over the place. They’re with us every Taste of Bigfork because it’s such a great event.”

Because the chefs donate their time and supplies for the event, Solberg said tickets are limited.

“We always print up 300 tickets,” he said. “No more, because it puts a lot of strain on the chefs. All of them donated their time and the food. I don’t think we sold out last year, but it was the first time in many years that we haven’t sold out.”

Solberg said visitors stand a good chance to get tickets at the event, although advance tickets are encouraged.

Although Solberg is unsure just how many years the event has been happening, he said it always draws a crowd.

“It’s something you can do to give back to the community, and have fun while you’re doing it,” Solberg said. 

For more information, contact the Bigfork Chamber of Commerce at 837-5888 or go online to www.bigfork.org. Advance tickets are available at the Chamber office or Electric Avenue Gifts in downtown Bigfork. Tickets are available at Eva Gates on the day of the event.

Reporter Melissa Walther may be reached at 758-4474 or by email at mwalther@dailyinterlake.com.