Taste of SoMo goes virtual

Taste of SoMo, a downtown restaurant sampling event held each summer, is going virtual this year amid the coronavirus pandemic.

The Downtown Springfield Association announced in a news release the event, now titled Taste of SoMo: The Virtual Edition, will be held online June 19-27.

“In light of this difficult time our restaurants have been facing and large gatherings not being allowed in June, we are planning this virtual Taste of SoMo restaurant week,” said Jennifer Moseley, DSA event manager, in the release. “This event is designed to promote our downtown restaurants, coffee shops and breweries as we partner with Ozarks Food Harvest to raise awareness and funds to help fight hunger in our region.”

Instead of sampling food in a single day – the event had been scheduled June 20 this year – participants can purchase gift cards to participating downtown establishments.

DSA spokesperson Jeff Kessinger said via email the goal is to sell $500 to $1,000 in gift cards for each of the 24 participating restaurants, breweries and coffee shops.

Additionally, proceeds from commemorative T-shirt sales will go to Ozarks Food Harvest, according to the release.

Last year’s event drew a crowd of roughly 8,000 people, Kessinger said.