By J.R. Tidwell / Editor

The annual Taste of Chilton event is coming up soon.

The event will be hosted at Senior Connection in Clanton, located at 304 Park Plaza, on Sept. 17 from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m.

Tickets are $25 each. The Taste of Chilton seeks to give attendees a chance to sample food from different restaurants and other organizations throughout Chilton County.

The event is held each year by the local Rotary Club in partnership with Senior Connection. Members of the Chilton County High Student Government Association (SGA) have also helped at past events.

“It gives you an opportunity to try restaurants you haven’t been to or eat from places you know, but you can and will get your fill definitely,” said Gordon Swenson, the president of the local chapter of Rotary Club. “You can network with people during the event. It is a fantastic time for socializing.”

Swenson said a Monday was selected to have the Taste of Chilton event on because it is usually a slower day for restaurants.

“You can get tickets at Senior Connection, the Chamber of Commerce, at The Clanton Advertiser or from any Rotarian,” he said. “Tickets are also available at the door.”

Martha Thornburgh of Senior Connection said last year’s event was “phenomenal.”

“I’m surprised that a town this small in a county this small could have such a turnout and to be so professionally done,” she said. “It went smooth. Everybody had so much fun and loved the food. I can’t say enough about it. You get a lot of food for that ticket. The best of it, you get to sample all of these places in one location. ”

Thornburgh said the event can have real surprises.

“The hospital was an amazement to me,” she said. “They have a real chef over there. My husband came away with five restaurants he wanted to try.”

Vendors will be able to set up any time from noon to 5 p.m. the day of the event.

Anyone who purchases a ticket will be able to participate in a vote that includes three different categories.

“One thing we are doing different this year, we are having an overall fan favorite vote along with votes for best savory and best dessert,” Swenson said. “We are looking to have a good representation of each of those categories from restaurants in the county. We probably have 70 percent at least of the restaurants in the county represented. If people want a good representation of the best restaurants in Chilton County, they need to come.”