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June 29, 2009

Economy affects ‘Taste of Edmond’

More than 2,500 attend annual LibertyFest fundraiser

Courtney Crauthers

EDMOND — The current economy took a slight toll on LibertyFest’s Taste of Edmond event.

Leah Kessler, co-founder of the event, said she estimates that 2,500 to 3,000 people attended. In the past, they have had as many as 4,500, she said. Normally, large corporations and businesses will buy several tickets for their employees.

“We didn’t have that this year,” Kessler said.

The money that was raised will go toward the fireworks display for LibertyFest 2010. Kessler said the economy did not seem to affect the number of restaurants that wanted to participate. She said they offered 34 vendors this year, but had a waiting list of even more hoping that someone would cancel at the last minute.

Restaurants passed out sample-sized portions of their most popular dishes. Food items identified as favorites by participants included Charleston’s baked potato soup, Humble Pie’s pizza and Rib Crib’s ribs, which were gone within 45 minutes of the two-hour event. Rib Crib also had one of the three longest lines along with Ted’s Café Escondido and Freddy’s Frozen Custard.

Emoly West, who was named 2010 Miss LibertyFest Saturday night, volunteered to pass out wristbands with Lawton resident Sarah Staats, 2010 Edmond LibertyFest Outstanding Teen.

“I’m really excited because last time I was Miss LibertyFest it was rained out,” West said.

She already has competed in the Miss Oklahoma pageant for five consecutive years, under several titles, including Miss LibertyFest two years ago and Miss Grand Lake. West and Staats will compete in statewide competitions in June 2010.

“Edmond is a really great community to support you in whatever you do,” West said.

Sunday night that support was focused on making sure the community left on a full stomach.

Edmond resident Sarah Miranda brought her 10-month-old baby, Eden, and her mother, Marilyn Moline, out to enjoy the city’s best cuisine.

“So far I liked the Rib Crib,” Miranda said. “I liked the chicken.”

She said she brought her family out because they could eat lots of food for cheap and the lines moved quickly.

Moline said her favorite dish was the sausage and penne pasta from Othello’s Italian Restaurant.

Jeff and Melinda Courcier, Edmond residents, said this year’s Taste of Edmond event was laid out better. This was the second year the event was set up in the Festival Market Place.

“I’m going to say I liked the Pita Pit,” Jeff Courcier said. “Even though it was a tiny bite, it was delicious.”

Nikolas, the Courciers’ 8-year-old son, said his favorite was Papa John’s pizza.

Lorne and Jacquelyn Blake drove from their home in Oklahoma City for the event.

“We were here a couple of years ago,” Lorne Blake said.

Jacquelyn Blake said the event definitely offered a bigger variety this year. She said she really enjoyed the vegetarian pizza from Humble Pie.

“I was happy with Charleston’s,” Lorne Blake said.

While people had different favorite tastes, most everyone left with the same feeling — a full stomach.



cbryce@edmondsun.com | 341-2121, ext. 112



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