Taste of Akron is lineup features 19 food trucks, 15 vendors Thursday, followed by Arts Expo

Foodies, unite. It's once again time for the Taste of Akron .

The celebration of local foods, a precursor to the 45th annual Akron Arts Expo , will roll into Hardesty Park for an evening of noshing from 5 to 9 p.m. Thursday at 1615 W. Market St. The evening will feature appetizers, entrees and desserts from 19 food trucks and 15 food vendors.

Food trucks and trailers will include D&M Grille , Smash Time , Southern Thangs , Bereka Coffee , The Cookery , Dr. Hibach i, Thai It Up , Uncle Bacon's BBQ , Henry's Creamery , Da Bayou Cajun & Creole , Sip N Lick , The Eccentric Panda , Dbos Grill , Twisted Grill & Grind , Eddie's Famous Cheesesteaks , Birdies , Big Blue BBQ by Stray Dog , Cookies BBQ and Johnny Lote's Latin Street Corn .

Food vendors will be MsCotti's Biscotti & Scones , Happy Camper Bar Car , Papa Johns , Akron Honey Mobile Tea , Norka , Authentic Nigerian Kitchen, Saffron Patch , City BBQ , Big Deal Whitfield , Urban Gourmet , The Breakfast Box , Essential Dipped Delights , The Pierogi Lady , Fat T's Cookies and Nothing Bundt Cakes .

Taste of Akron will offer entertainment by Eric Everett Jazz: Elation! and Timi Funk.

The Akron Arts Expo, which will feature 118 juried artists from across the country, will run 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday. Fine arts and crafts will include ceramics, photography, fibers and textiles, glass, jewelry, leather, metal, wood, painting, sculpture, mixed media, graphics and drawing, 2D and 3D works, and functional and ornamental pieces.

Admission is free. Weekend entertainment will include DEK of Hearts , Symphonic Winds, Magnificent Goat Brothers, Northwest Community Center Dancers and FizzStix.

See Akronartexpo.com for more information.

Folks 21 and older can create their own art at the Sip and Paint from 1 to 3 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. Cost is $25. Registration is required at www.AkronRec.Desk.com . Participants will enjoy a glass of wine or other beverage and paint a watercolor-looking floral design.

Throughout the weekend, Creative Zone will offer children's crafts and the Akron Summit County Public Library will provide interactive art-related activities for all ages.

Arts and restaurant writer Kerry Clawson may be reached at 330-996-3527 or kclawson@thebeaconjournal.com.

This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Taste of Akron is lineup features 19 food trucks, 15 vendors Thursday, followed by Arts Expo