Taste celebrates 25 years

Taste of Third, the last event last year before the COVID-19 pandemic shutdown, is the first event Third Avenue Village Association is holding this year, celebrating its 25th year. The COVID-safe festival is returning March 18-20, from 4-8 p.m., and TAVA Event Director Kelly Lannom said tickets are already selling fast.

Lannom said tickets are $25 per day. Individuals may buy multiple days if they like, but due to COVID-19 safety regulations, tickets are limited. Tickets are only available online and will not be sold the day of the event.

“Currently we have 25 establishments participating, but we expect to have more,” said Lannom. “Some of the participants this year are The Balboa South, which obviously has excellent burgers, Mariscos Los Cuates, El Cruce+241, desserts from La Concha Bakery, MMM Cakes who has an establishment on the street but is not quite open yet. This is great because we are getting some businesses to participate even if they are not open yet due to COVID.”

Lannom said tote bags from San Ysidro Health Center and hand sanitizer will be handed out so participants can put their samples in their bags or sit on the patios where the vendors are following all COVID mandates.

Lannom said the drive for Taste of Third from TAVA and its board of directors is to bring people to the street, not only the local community, but new people. She said this year, the event is also help for the businesses.

“This year we have pushed it more to be a support the businesses, so all the funds that we raise are going to go back into marketing those businesses,” said Lannom. “We are promoting the small businesses that have been hit really hard by this pandemic, and the restaurant industry took a big hit. We hope that we sell out of tickets, but we are limiting them. But we feel that bringing people to the street in a safe way, not only helps our businesses that need it desperately, but it is also helping our community get out and feel a little bit of normalcy. And feel good about supporting these businesses. It is kind of like a comeback to a new year. I hope that we continue to get better here in South Bay and keep moving forward through this pandemic.”

For tickets visit www.thirdavenuevillage.com/taste-of-third.