Taste of Williamsville returns for 18th annual festival

The Taste of Williamsville, Savor the Flavor, is back for another round of mouth-watering fun.

Restaurants will feature their specialty dishes from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 1 at Island Park, behind Village Hall, 5565 Main St. in Williamsville.

This year, Orville's Appliances and Viking Grill will feature a new event, the "Secret Gourmet Cooking School."

Comedian Rob Lederman will grill gourmet food using everyday ingredients found around the house.

"Rob uses stuff so that the everyday cook can create something gourmet," said Co-chair Trisha Hanny-Browne.

The Williamsville Fire Department will be saluted at the taste for 150 years of service.

A booth will be set up on the Island with "a shoot the water to put out the fire" contest. There will also be membership and historical information about the department's 150 years of service.

Historic trolley rides will be back again from 1 to 4 p.m. For $1, people can relax on the street car tour

and enjoy the village sights.

A village historian will be on board to offer details on the various historic places, said Janet Lester, event cochair.

There are events for every age, according to Hanny-Browne.

Children's games, slides, a jump house and Donuts the Clown will offer entertainment throughout the day.

Fun Tattoos will be provided by Gateway-Longview Inc. from 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. and from 5 to 7 p.m.

The annual pie-baking contest will take place the day of the taste.

Competitors should bring their sweet confections to the tent by 1:15 p.m. Ribbons will be awarded at 4 p.m. No pre-registration is required.

Bakers are encouraged to bring their own refrigeration system for the pies as the tent does not have any means of keeping the pastries cool and fresh.

Twenty-three village and town restaurants will be featured in the Taste of Williamsville, including:

Eagle House Restaurant, Pizza Plant, Glen Park Tavern, Applebee's, Marinaccio's, Sonoma Grille, Bravo Italian Bistro, Village Desserts, Lebro's Restaurant, Riva's Pizza and Subs, The Roadhouse, Dessert Deli, Brennan's Bowery Bar, Braun's, Kabob and Curry, Great Northern Pizza, Sorrentino's Spaghetti House, Creekview Restaurant, Protocol, Hirsch's, Sweet Jenny's, Jenny's Ice Cream, and Bings.

Proceeds from the event will benefit the beautification of the Village of Williamsville.