Taste of Hudson, a two-day food and fundraising event that annually has attracted thousands to the city, has been canceled for this year.
The event — which has typically taken place over Labor Day weekend — has raised more than $300,000 for local charities over its 11 years.
Andy Malitz, the outgoing executive director of the event, said in an interview Thursday that Taste of Hudson directors and the organizing committee are “fully committed to bringing the festival back in 2017.”
A news release issued Thursday by Bob Liskiewicz, president of the nonprofit Taste of Hudson board, said that the cancellation “provides an opportunity after a very positive 11-year run to review the festival’s objectives for the future and determine the best way forward as a key community event.”
In recent years, Taste of Hudson has attracted an estimated 30,000 people over the two days.
Roughly 20 restaurants/establishments — most of them with operations in the Hudson area — would grill, fry, saute and serve up their specialities from dozens of tents. Last year, the festival featured five stages and 60 bands.
Liskiewicz said in the news release that the cancellation, is partially due to construction scheduled for downtown Hudson. The event has been held at the First & Main collection of restaurants and shops in the city’s downtown.
Liskiewicz also noted Malitz’s retirement — effective Monday — as executive director for the event for all of its 11 years. While working for Taste of Hudson, Malitz also worked in the fitness/wellness field in Northeast Ohio, including a stint as executive director of membership for the YMCA of Greater Cleveland.
Malitz got a new full-time job last June. He is now general manager of Sequoia Wellness, the wellness center at Northeast Ohio Medical University. He also is executive director of The New Center at NEOMED. Both organizations are in one facility operated by Signet Enterprises of Akron.
Philanthropist and Hudson resident Tom Murdough, who founded Northeast Ohio toy companies Little Tikes and Step2, will donate $30,000 from the Murdough Foundation to benefit local organizations who have benefited from Taste of Hudson, according to the news release.
Katie Byard can be reached at 330-996-3781 or kbyard@thebeaconjournal.com. You can follow her @KatieByardABJ on Twitter or become a fan on Facebook at www.facebook.com.