Monday, August 12, 2024, Hope, Arkansas, Hope Downtown Network (HDN) is currently putting plans in place for the 2nd Annual Taste of Hope. The event will take place on Saturday, October 5, 2024, from 5:00 PM - 8:00 PM, in downtown Hope. Taste of Hope offers a time to showcase local restaurants and eateries in Hope. This year's theme is Hope Diners & Drive-Ins. Part of the evening's festivities will include a video retrospective of Hope's restaurants and eateries from the past. All proceeds raised from the event will benefit downtown business revitalization.

Barb Noble, Hope Downtown Network Board President, stated, "We are thrilled to spotlight local restaurants and eateries in such an exciting way. This year's 50's /60's theme will allow us to have fun as we celebrate Hope Downtown Network's mission and vision for downtown business revitalization and historic preservation. One major moment during the event calls for attendees to vote on one of three projects for downtown Hope. The cash vote will result in the announcement of the next, big project for Hope Downtown Network."

Activities for the evening include the following: Taste of Hope participating restaurants and eateries at the HUB; attendees will check-in & pay, receive an armband, and begin going from table to table enjoying the delicious food samples; DJ & Street dancing (50's and 60's music); Pie Baking Contest; Art Show in the pedestrian alleyways; Remembering diners and drive-ins from years gone by; Jail & Bail (stairway gate entry on Main); Family friendly fun & games on 2nd Street; Continuation of the paint-by-number mural on the side wall of Downtown Market facing the Pocket Park; Hope Downtown Network "50's/60's Diner" in the downtown network building on Main Street; Photo op provided by Heather Clements Studio; AND ... much, much more!

Hope Downtown Network has placed event information on the HDN website, hopedowntownnetwork.org/Taste of Hope. To purchase tickets or to review sponsorship opportunities, please check out this site. Ticket prices are $25 for adults and $10 for children 6-12 years of age.

Hope Downtown Network is a program under Main Street Arkansas. Main Street Arkansas works to strengthen and preserve historic downtowns and Main Street districts across the state. It provides technical assistance, resources, and ongoing education to local programs to help them implement and excel in the Main Street Four-Point Approach™, creating a vivid and vital sense of place.