As summer begins to wind down and plans for going back to school permeate the community, the Bryant Area Chamber of Commerce is ready for its 16th annual Taste of Bryant fundraising event.
This year, area restaurants and businesses will observe the theme Back to School as they dish up any number of foods for tasting and items for a silent auction that will be held in conjunction with Taste of Bryant, which will occur Thursday at The Center at Bishop Park, 6401 Boone Road in Bryant.
The silent auction will begin at 6 p.m., and the food will be served from 6:30-8:30 p.m.
Advance tickets are on sale at the chamber office, 109 Roya Lane. Advance tickets are $15 for adults and $5 for children ages 7-12.Children 6 and younger may eat free. New this year is a senior ticket for $12 for those 65 and older.
Tickets at the door will be $25.
For more information, call (501) 847-4702.
Rae Ann Fields, executive director of the Bryant Area Chamber of Commerce, said tickets will not be sold during the day Thursday because the chamber office will be closed to prepare for that evening’s event.
Fields suggests buying tickets early. The event normally draws approximately 750 people, including vendors.
Proceeds from the event will help fund the chamber’s many projects.
Fields said that among this year’s offerings at Taste of Bryant by the approximately 40 restaurants set to participate will be prime rib, chicken alfredo, smoked sausage, barbecue, catfish, boiled shrimp, hush puppies, tacos, burritos, quesadillas, tortas, chicken tenders and nuggets, sliders, steak, ribs, pizza, salads, finger foods, cheese dip and chips, guacamole, banana pudding, doughnut holes, cupcakes, cookies, brownies, “delectable bites,” Danish crepes, Captain Crunch Cinnabon, 15 flavors of frozen yogurt, ice cream, hand-shaken flavored teas, and coffee and iced coffees.
“There will be a lot of new menu items,” Fields said, adding that restaurants often try to offer different selections that the public might not normally choose when visiting the restaurants.
“I call them ‘sleepers,’” Fields said with a laugh.
Silent auction items can be donated by those who want to draw attention to a product or service offered by their company.
“It’s instant awareness,” said Kim Leech, chairwoman for the silent auction. “Some businesses and organizations are really clever in what they donate or how they tie their donations to the theme. A visual item or a timely idea sparks attention to a new thing that they are doing.”
Among the items already donated are a silver Pandora bracelet by Baker’s Fine Jewelry, a pair of lamps by Ashley Furniture, a handcrafted Adirondack chair by Mr. Fix It, a dorm move-in basket from First Electric Cooperative, and a backpack and school supplies from The Gann Agency.
Leech said individuals are also welcome to donate items to the silent auction.
“Community supporters who are not businesses have donated all manner of items in the past — everything from practical items like coupons for eating out to luxury items like artwork, jewelry and fur coats,” Leech said.
Silent-auction items can be delivered to the Bryant Area Chamber of Commerce office.
“The silent auction is great, … especially if you are a new business or you have added some new product or service that makes you stand out from the competitors,” Leech said.
Fields said Taste of Bryant is for the entire family.
“There is even a kids’ corner, sponsored each year by Chiropractic Health Center,” Fields said. She said the floor in that area is covered in paper, and crayons and chalk are made available for the kids’ artistic expression.
“They also can participate in a drawing for children’s items,” she said with a smile.
“Taste of Bryant is a fun, no-hassles event,” Fields said. “You come when you want, eat what you want, leave when you want.
“But to win something from the silent auction, you have to be present for the announcement,” Fields said, adding that the winners of the silent auction items will be announced before the tasting ends at 8:30 p.m.