Hogtown HomeGrown will host its eighth annual Eat Local Challenge Community Celebration on Sunday at the Matheson History Museum to celebrate the end of Eat Local Month. Festival events will be from 1 to 4 p.m. and are free to the public.
This year is the first time the event will be held at Matheson History Museum, located at 513 E. University Ave.
Stefanie Samara Hamblen, creator of the Eat Local Challenge, said while the group does not keep track of the number of people who attend each year, the museum expects about 250 people to show up on Sunday.
“We encourage everyone to eat something local at every meal for the entire month,” Hamblen said, “and to either eat that food at home or at a locally owned restaurant.”
Hogtown HomeGrown brings together local food entrepreneurs, gardening and health organizations that include activities for adults and children for the community celebration.
Stephanie Pastore, the marketing and education coordinator of the Matheson History Museum, said she is looking forward to taking part in the celebration as well as welcoming consumers to take a peek at the museum’s Florida’s Global Kitchen exhibit.
“So much of Gainesville’s art and culture is reflected in our food,” Pastore said.
The festival will also include a goat petting area for kids, a pepper-and-tomato tasting, at least one cooking demonstration and multiple local farmer stands selling their produce.
[A version of this story ran on page 9 on 5/28/15]
