Eastern Ontario’s most anticipated culinary event of 2013 is almost here!

TASTE community grown in Prince Edward County is the region’s premier epicurean experience. A Festivals & Events Ontario Top 100 event, TASTE community grown is expanding in its 12^th year to a weekend long event incorporating regional history, film, music and art.

Step back in time as you visit historic Camp Picton, a former Canadian Forces Base, on Friday evening. Start the evening with a glass of regional wine or beer in the remarkably well-preserved bar, explore the WW2 sergeant’s mess hall and kick up your heels to a live era band. Enjoy dinner prepared by a regional chef and finish off the evening relaxing under the stars while the Kingston Canadian Film Festival wows you with an outdoor (weather permitting) screening of Canadian film director Sarah Polley’s acclaimed film, Stories We Tell.

Meet a tightly knit community of chefs, winemakers, beer and cider masters, artisanal food producers and farmers and indulge in the fine food and drink the region has to offer. Take in a guest speaker, enjoy a seminar and don’t miss County Chopped Live, where reigning champion Matt DeMille has just 30 minutes to defend his title from two of the region’s best chefs in front of celebrity judges and a member of the local culinary community. County Chopped is hosted by Second City Alumnus Sandy Jobin-Bevans and judged by Toronto Life food editor Rachel Heinrichs, activist chef Joshna Maharaj and From the Farm Cooking School owner and chef Cynthia Peters.

Saturday’s programming also features live music by Ottawa’s River City Junction, among others, a Celebrity Pie Auction, a regional Farm & Artisan Market and educational children’s programming provided by The Hub and Slow Food the County.

Get ready to party on Saturday night at the first Back40Bash – A County Kind of Concert, an all ages, licensed event headlined by Juno Award nominees High Valley and featuring popular county duo Autumn Hill and up and coming singer Lindsay Broughton. This is the very first concert of this caliber in Prince Edward County and will be on the grounds of the Crystal Palace. Don’t worry, we haven’t left out the food – there will be gourmet food trucks on hand to keep you fueled up!

On Sunday, join hundreds of cyclists on a 25, 50 or 100 km ride through pastoral back roads and discover the magic of the island community. You’ll stop at refreshment stations set up along the route and witness the County’s rural community in action, not to mention working off all those calories from the day before! This annual Kiwanis event supports many causes in the community. What better way to end your weekend in the County?

TASTE community grown is September 27-29 in Prince Edward County. Tickets and more information are available at www.tastecommunitygrown.com.