A new food-and-beverage festival aiming to draw 50 to 80 area restaurants and thousands of attendees is coming to Saddlebrook Resort in Wesley Chapel on Saturday, March 13, 2027.

The inaugural Taste of North Tampa Bay is organized by the North Tampa Bay Chamber and longtime event organizer Gary Nager. A portion of net proceeds will go to local charities, though organizers have not named specific beneficiaries.

Hope Kennedy, president and CEO of the North Tampa Bay Chamber, first announced the event at a small VIP gathering at Saddlebrook on Sept. 17. Nager, publisher of Neighborhood News, ran the Taste of New Tampa for more than two decades. He detailed the plans in a Sept. 26 column and will handle restaurant recruitment and promotion.

Freddie Wyatt, Saddlebrook's new vice president of business and partnerships, is booking live music and possibly celebrity chefs. He is also helping the chamber secure sponsors and vendors.

"We've got 484 acres of land here," Wyatt said at the event's first organizational meeting. "We can fit as many restaurants on these grounds as you can get, Gary."

Saddlebrook restaurants first to sign on

Four Saddlebrook dining spots have already agreed to provide samples: Rare 1981 steakhouse, The GOAT sports bar, Brew coffee shop and Palmhaus outdoor grill. Nager plans to recruit restaurants throughout Wesley Chapel and New Tampa, as well as in Dade City, South Tampa, Lutz, Land O' Lakes, Dunedin, Tarpon Springs and New Port Richey. His previous record was 57 food-and-beverage participants.

Nager estimates 5,000 to 10,000 people could attend. Past Taste of New Tampa events attracted 5,000 to 8,000, though the most recent, in 2019, drew an estimated 2,000. The event has not been held since. Saddlebrook's on-site transportation will allow organizers to spread restaurant, sponsor and vendor booths across the property.

Ticket and sponsorship prices still pending

Ticket prices have not been set. Organizers plan general admission and VIP tiers, both including food and drinks. Add-on packages may include overnight stays, golf, tennis, pickleball and spa access at the resort, which unveiled a $92 million renovation in November 2025.

Pricing for vendor tables and sponsorships is also pending. Kennedy has said she hopes to expand the festival to a full weekend in future years.

How restaurants and businesses can take part

Restaurants and businesses interested in participating can email [email protected] or call 813-910-2575. They can also reach the North Tampa Bay Chamber at 813-994-8534 or [email protected]. Organizers ask that interested parties not contact Saddlebrook directly about the event.

Updates on tickets and participating restaurants will be published by Neighborhood News and the North Tampa Bay Chamber.