The government shutdown has prompted the Taste of NoVA to move from the National Museum of the U.S. Army at Fort Belvoir, nearly 30 miles west, to the NOVA LIVE event field in Manassas.
More than 120 restaurants and wineries are featured at the Northern Virginia Magazine event on Oct. 11 and 12, and organizers had to think fast as the National Museum of the U.S. Army is closed during the shutdown. Federal workers attending the event can use promo code GOV20 to receive 20 percent off general admission tickets with a valid government ID at TasteOfNoVA.com.
Sang Yang, CEO of Northern Virginia Magazine, stated that the festival needed to proceed on schedule despite the shutdown.
“We’re grateful to Villagio Hospitality Group and Prince William County for their extraordinary support in helping us make this happen so quickly,” Yang said in a Northern Virginia Magazine post.
Christina Winn, executive director of the Prince William County Department of Economic Development and Tourism, thanked county staff for accommodating event planners.
“I want to acknowledge the strong commitment of county staff, particularly the Development Services Department, who have stepped up to meet the accelerated permitting and coordination needs of this event,” Winn said.
With 35 sponsors, this year’s festival expanded to two days and features live cooking demonstrations with chef Bertrand Chemel of 2941 Restaurant and chef Bryan Yealy of Villagio Hospitality Group, according to Northern Virginia Magazine. Additionally, chef Patrick O’Connell of The Inn at Little Washington will be presented with a lifetime achievement award.
