The wait is nearly over! 200 tickets, priced at $30 a piece, go on sale Monday, April 8 at 10:00 am at the Galt Museum Store for the annual Taste of Downtown fundraiser, organized since 2004 by the Galt Museum & Archives, this year scheduled for Wednesday, May 8.

During Taste of Downtown ticket-holders sample menu items at well-established and new restaurants and cafés, tour other businesses, learn about the history of local historic buildings and are part of a vibrant event which sees the sidewalks of downtown teeming with people, no matter what the weather has in store!

“I am very excited for this year's Taste of Downtown,” says Chris Roedler, Resource Development & Volunteer Coordinator at the Galt Museum & Archives. “The lineup has changed with the addition of 6 new places, including Afghan Cuisine, Junior's Diner, Kapow Comics, Koko Japanese Restaurant and Naturistas. Bernard Callebaut Chocolates is returning after a multiple year absence.”

Three of the participating businesses have been involved in Taste of Downtown since its inception in 2004: Mocha Cabana, The Mongolie Grill and The Penny Coffee House. Other returning businesses include Baadshah Royal East Indian Cuisine, Express Coffee and Tea, LA School of Hair Design, Nicholai Home Fashion, Owl Acoustic Lounge, Plum, Round Street Café (since 2005), Schnitzelhaus, Streatside Eatery, Ten Thousand Villages and The Jasmine Room.

“Taste of Downtown is a Galt fundraiser for festivals and other history projects made possible by the participating businesses,” says Roedler. “We have increased the ticket price this year to better reflect the value of what the businesses give out for the event. We’d also encourage everyone to show their appreciation to the participating establishments by visiting them all year long!”

Upcoming 2013 Galt special events to look forward to include Museum Community Day: Earth Day on Sunday, April 21; Best of the Best Summer Wine & Beer Tasting on Thursday, June 20; the Scenic Plaza Whoop-Up Days BBQ on Tuesday, August 20; the Whirligigs & Weathervanes Festival on the Prairie on Saturday, August 31; Galt Beer Tasting on Friday, September 6; Flashlight Cemetery Tours as well as a new Halloween event in October; and Night at the Museum Shopping Event on Thursday, November 28, among others. Additional special programs are also planned.

For more information, please call 403.320-3954, or check www.galtmuseum.com for updates.