Taste of Oviedo...A Brief History
In 1995, the Greater Oviedo Chamber of Commerce, through the leadership of President Glenda Conley, decided to develop a fundraiser for the chamber that would highlight the city's rich cultural heritage. It was then that the Taste of Oviedo was born.
The inaugural Taste opened for business on a gloomy spring morning on the grounds of the historic Lawton House, which formerly housed the chamber’s offices. In fact, the inclement weather that day cast doubt as to whether the event would ever come to fruition. However, as the day wore on, the clouds dissipated and patrons began arriving. It is estimated that nearly 12,000 area citizens attended the first event, which featured 16 restaurants, 24 businesses and 14 artists displaying their wares.
Various incarnations of the event have occurred over the past 16 springs. From new, larger venues to accommodate our over 200 vendors, to the addition of top-notch entertainment and our beloved Kids’ Taste area, the Taste of Oviedo has witnessed tremendous growth and success, as has our community over the same time period.
As the event celebrates its 17th anniversary in 2011, the Taste of Oviedo continues to reflect all that makes Oviedo a “Top 100 Places to Live” through furtherance of the chamber’s mission of promoting and advancing the interests of the business community by providing a venue for our local businesses, artists and restaurants.