‘A Taste of Macon’ gets green light after a year off

ATLANTA — “A Taste of Macon,” the annual free food and cocktail party to showcase the city at the Georgia state Capitol, is back on this year after an economy-induced hiatus last year.

It will be pared down a bit, though, and sponsors were harder to come by than in the past. The decision to hold the event, scheduled for March 25, was made this week, and some of the details still are being worked out, Greater Macon Chamber of Commerce President Chip Cherry said.

For years, “Macon Day” and its evening version, “A Taste of Macon,” have been a popular part of the smorgasbord of free events held while the Georgia Legislature is in session. During the day, a few busloads of Maconites come to the Capitol to lobby state leaders on their favorite issues. And in the evening, legislators, their staffers and whoever else can secure a ticket stop by for drinks and food.

But last year, the evening event was canceled. Locals still came to the Capitol to talk to legislators, and Cherry and his team took coolers full of NuWay hot dogs to the Capitol. But the evening event, which many other communities held despite the economic downturn, was put on hold.

Sponsors “felt it would be in bad form to have a large cocktail party in Atlanta when they were laying people off,” Cherry said. This year, the economy has steadied, at least a bit. And the benefit of wining and dining those who hold the state’s purse strings was discussed, particularly, Cherry said, by members of Macon’s own legislative delegation.

“I think at the end of the day that argument ... coupled with some interest from our local government, we were able to secure enough sponsors,” Cherry said.

The events, from busing people to the Capitol for a day of lobbying to the evening party, will cost about $45,000, Cherry said. That’s about $15,000 less than in years past. Only three or four local restaurants will participate in an effort to hold down costs, he said. In the past, several more have been involved.

In the past, the Cherry Blossom Festival has given legislators cherry tree saplings as gifts on Macon Day. Cherry said he didn’t know Wednesday night whether that tradition will be renewed this year.

“We haven’t gotten there yet,” he said.

But Cherry said NuWay, perhaps Macon’s best-known local fare, definitely will be serving up hot dogs at the event.

“I don’t think the governor would be very happy with us ... if we didn’t have NuWays,” Cherry said.

To contact writer Travis Fain, call 361-2702.