Del Mar’s Taste and Art Stroll offers something for everyone — including pets

By Diane Y. Welch

Contributor

On Sunday, Oct. 2, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., everyone is invited to the annual Taste and Art Stroll in Del Mar. The event takes place along Camino Del Mar/Pacific Coast Highway 101 starting at 15th Street, in the historic downtown village of Del Mar, and ending at 11th Street. The art stroll is a free family-friendly event with more than 100 noted local and regional juried artists exhibiting their works, and live music and entertainment creating a festive ambiance.

For the foodies in the family, the Taste of Del Mar, from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. — for a pre-event ticket cost of $25 or $30 payable at the event — will provide a wide variety of great eats. “You’ll discover irresistible culinary creations offered by a number of our fine restaurants, along with selections from California wineries and breweries,” said Jen Grove, executive director of the Del Mar Village Association (DMVA), who has sponsored and organized the event with the support of the City of Del Mar.

“There’s truly something for everyone, including the family pet,” said Grove. This year an added attraction is The Pet Stroll, with dog tastes and treats at the following locations: Smashburger, Frustrated Cowboy, Julie’s Beachwear, Willis Allen Real Estate, Dexter’s Deli, and Café Secret. “Each location will be identified on the event map that you will be given when you buy your ticket. So you can take your dog along with you for the stroll and it will get also get to taste treats along the route,” Grove explained.

The Pet Stroll booth will be set up on 15th Street, near Americana and Jimmy O’s. “There will be a double booth here displaying some pet art and there will be give-aways like bandanas. What’s really new is that we’ll have a doggie photographer called the ‘Pupparrazi’ who will be roaming the event to take action shots of the dogs along the stroll,” said Grove. Photos will later be posted on social media sites and the DMVA website. “There is a huge dog population in Del Mar and we are very dog friendly, so the DMVA board thought, ‘Let’s make it more fun for the dogs,’” said Grove.

Many of the restaurants participating in the Taste of Del Mar will have drink specials available. There will be half-priced mimosas and glasses of wine, for example, and some will be complimentary. “The idea is that people may sip along the way with their tasting,” said Grove. There are 28 taste participants, each taste station is also included on the event map.

There are three different venues for music, and three different children activity stations. Geppettos is sponsoring a mosaic crown-making activity for kids, there will be complimentary face-painting, and the Del Mar Library is providing a kids’ craft activity. A guest artist, William Zin, will be creating a chalk painting on 15th Street, “People will be able to stroll by and experience his art as it is transpiring,” said Grove.

Free parking will be provided at City Hall and valet parking will be available in the Del Mar Medical Center located between 14th and 13th Street. To purchase tickets, to print an event map, or for more information visit https://

taste.delmarmainstreet.com

.