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Leesburg's "Taste" festival drew strong attendance and mixed vendor feedback, council members say
Summary
Council members and staff reported high attendance and continuing use of the new playground after the recent "Taste" festival, while some vendors and breweries told council members the event produced uneven business results.
Several Leesburg council members and staff reviewed the town's recent "Taste" festival at the Aug. 20 meeting, saying attendance and public reaction were generally positive but vendor feedback was mixed. Council members said they received multiple anecdotal reports of residents and out-of-town visitors enjoying the event, and that the courthouse-stage band attracted crowds. Organizers are reviewing vendor placement and the rooftop brewery footprint after complaints that some vendors did not see clear customer benefit.
Why it matters: "Taste" is one of Leesburg's signature events and influences vendor recruitment, sponsorships and how the town configures public space for future festivals.
Council members reported several concrete impressions: one member said friends from nearby towns "raved about it," another counted about 55 parents and children at the playground before the ribbon cutting, and staff described the band and town-green games as strong draws. Several brick-and-mortar restaurants and bars in town reported increased food and drink sales after the event closed at 10 p.m.
At the same time, multiple breweries and some vendors told council members they prefer a different footprint — several speakers said breweries felt too removed on the rooftop and would rather be closer to the main festival area. Staff noted logistical tradeoffs: expanding the lower footprint would require removing some garden vendors or enlarging the event footprint, which increases planning complexity.
Organizers also discussed sponsorship placement. Some vendors that paid for premier sponsorships reported measurable returns (one sponsor reported one sale and a dozen leads), but other vendors and council members said certain business types (for example, home improvement vendors) did not fit the festival atmosphere.
Council members asked staff to consider better signage and promotion for rooftop vendors and to keep vendor feedback in mind when planning next year’s layout. No formal decisions or budget changes were made at the meeting.
Ending: Staff said they will share vendor feedback summaries with the council and consider changes to the footprint and signage for future events.
