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By NOAH WORTHAM | Managing Editor

NORTH SHELBY – Residents will have the chance to enjoy a sampling of dishes from across the county during the 16th annual Taste of Shelby County.

The Taste of Shelby County is set for Thursday, Sept.12 and features a wide array of local businesses with various dishes and beverages for attendees to sample, all while also supporting Shelby County Schools.

“We are looking forward to this year’s Taste of Shelby County,” said Bethany Ivey, executive director of the Shelby County Schools Education Foundation. “All of our vendors spots are full, and we have amazing businesses coming to serve their yummy food, so that is awesome.”

The Taste of Shelby County serves as a fundraiser for the Shelby County Education Foundation’s teacher grants program, in which funds are awarded to teachers across all 31 schools in the county’s school system.

“All of this money goes straight back into classrooms, libraries, counseling centers and STEM labs across the county,” Ivey said. “We do it just to provide teachers with resources that they need to be the best at their jobs.”

Last year’s installment of the Taste of Shelby County brought in $23,305 for Shelby County Schools and the foundation hopes to raise $35,000 to help local classrooms through this year’s festivities.

The Taste of Shelby County is set to satisfy a variety of palates as it features a wide array of cultural dishes.

“We have a great variety of food vendors coming this year,” Ivey said. “We’ve got some Italian food and Mexican food and we’ve got some desserts that have never come before.”

This year’s event will feature more than 20 businesses from across Shelby County, including Dread River Distilling Co., Carrabba’s Italian Grill, Good People Brewing Company, La Paz, Jersey Mike’s, ATG Distribution, Eli’s Jerusalem Grill, Birds & Burgers, Edible, Bistro ProVare, Chick-fil-A, Slice, East 59 Café, Taziki’s Mediterranean Café, Rickey J’s Bakery, Inverness Country Club, Charcuterie Pieces, Cooke Fix, Joe’s Italian and Tre Luna Bar and Kitchen.

“We’re just super excited about the variety of food that is going to be available to be sampled and we’re super, super excited about all of the new vendors that we’re going to see this year,” Ivey said.

All concessions from the vendors are included in the ticket price with the exception of drinks from the bar.

“It’s a very casual atmosphere,” Ivey said. “You mix, you mingle, you get a sample, some serve as you walk up and others just go ahead and have samples on the table for you to just take a plate.”

The 16th annual Taste of Shelby County will take place from 6-8 p.m. on Sept. 12 at the Inverness Country Club. An online auction will also be held during the event with proceeds from the auctions also going to support Shelby County Schools.

Tickets for the Taste of Shelby County are $50 for pre-purchase and $60 at the door. VIP tickets are also available for $75 and allow guests to enter at 5:30 p.m.—granting a 30 minute head start before the crowds arrive and also includes a “SWAG bag” with gifts from local vendors.

Those interested in learning more about the Taste of Shelby County may visit its official website at Tasteofshelbycounty.com.