Barrington TasteFest will brew scholarship fund donations

The Barrington Area Chamber of Commerce and Barrington Bank & Trust invite community residents and businesses to attend the Great TasteFest and Expo of Barrington, from 6 to 9:30 p.m. Thursday at The Onion Pub & Brewery, 22221 Pepper Road, Lake Barrington.

Keeping up with tradition, the event will offer a great value to attendees for a $30 donation.

The event will be held in the new Great Hall facility, with three area breweries and more than 16 area restaurants showcased and ready to offer an array of great samples and tastings.

A cash bar also will be available for non-beer and wine lovers.

In addition to meeting new friends -- or perhaps greeting neighbors or business associates -- there will be more than 20 businesses exhibiting their products and services. Many businesses also will coordinate competitive games to enjoy, with prizes.

The first 350 attendees will be given a free commemorative taste-testing glass. The event also features raffles of themed baskets, music and an exclusive sports package in the silent auction.

"A very festive evening has been planned for all adult (over age 21) age groups," said Janet Meyer, chamber president.

Samplings of a variety of spirits will be from Brass Restaurant & Brewery, Emmett's Tavern, Governor's; wine from the Wine Discount Shop, Barrington Cellars and Kelley Cellars Inc.; and food tastings from The Barn of Barrington, Caribou Coffee, Chessie's Restaurant & Banquets, Dinner by Design of Lake Zurich, Dunkin Donuts/Baskin Robbins, Francesca's Barrington, The Garlands of Barrington, Kooker's, La Strada Ristorante, Oak Terrace Grille, The Onion Pub & Brewery, Primo Pizza & Pasta, Scooters of Barrington Catering, Sergio's Pizza, Sugar E. Cookies Co. and ZaZa's Tavola Italiana, to name a few.

Tickets are available by calling (847) 381-2525; visiting the chamber office at 325 N. Hough St.; clicking on www.ticketleap-search for Barrington; or by visiting Barrington Bank & Trust at 201 S. Hough St..

Event tickets are $30 in advance, $35 at the door. A limited number of tickets is available, so advance purchase is advised. More than 650 tickets were sold last year.

The event benefits the chamber's scholarship program and the numerous small business development programs available to all businesses in the community, directly assisting in the vibrancy of the business environment in the greater Barrington area.

For more information, call the BACC office at (847) 381-2525.