The EastLake Educational Foundation will host Taste of Eastlake 2026, a signature community fundraiser supporting technology and innovation programs in Eastlake K–12 public schools.
The event takes place on Friday, July 24, from 6 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. at the Chula Vista Elite Athlete Training Center, 2800 Olympic Parkway in Chula Vista.
Billed as an evening of “Bites, Brews and Garden Views,” the 21-and-over event will feature more than 40 local restaurants, breweries, and beverage partners. Guests will also enjoy live entertainment, a silent auction, and a garden party-inspired atmosphere designed as an upscale outdoor tasting experience.
Mary Rose Peralta, executive director of the EastLake Educational Foundation, said the event began as a small community gathering and has grown into one of the organization’s largest annual fundraisers.
“The Taste of Eastlake was originally born out of a desire to create a signature community event that would bring people together while raising vital funds for our K–12 Eastlake public schools,” Peralta said. “When it debuted in 2015, it started as a modest gathering of local supporters and a handful of generous neighborhood vendors.”
She said the event has since expanded significantly, now hosted at the Chula Vista Elite Athlete Training Center to accommodate increased attendance and vendor participation.
According to Peralta, 100% of proceeds go directly to the seven K–12 public schools in the EastLake community, funding classroom technology and innovation programs.
“Over the years, our schools have strategically utilized these funds to modernize classroom technology in both hardware and software, and support robust STEM initiatives, such as expanding engineering and robotics programs,” she said.
Programs supported through past events include Eastlake High School’s Titan Bots robotics team, Eastlake Middle School’s VEX Robotics program, and STEAM fairs in partnership with Fleet Science at local elementary schools.
Peralta said the fundraiser plays a critical role in bridging funding gaps in public education.
“Public funding only covers the bare basics,” she said. “Events like the Taste of Eastlake bridge that critical gap by helping fund the cutting-edge education our students deserve.”
This year’s event will feature an outdoor garden-party theme with a curated farm-to-table style experience, along with live music, dancing, and a silent auction.
“We are partnering with over 40 exceptional local restaurants, breweries, and beverage partners to offer a diverse and delicious array of culinary fare,” Peralta said. “It truly is the ultimate summer night out, all while directly investing in the future of our local students
