The annual Taste of the Valley presented by the Morgan County Volunteer Center will take place April 8 from 6-8 p.m. at Ingalls Harbor in Decatur. The event has been taking place for more than 30 years now and will welcome more than 30 vendors from the surrounding area.

Quay Lively, who serves as special events and fundraising coordinator for Morgan County Volunteer Center, said Taste of the Valley is something the center puts on each year that helps raise funds to benefit their programing. She said the event is mutually beneficial to both the center and the participating restaurants. “Basically, it’s a win-win situation for us, the Volunteer Center, and also gives the restaurants and vendors a chance to attract new people,” Lively said.

In addition to allowing attendees to sample different desserts, wine, craft beer and other food items, Taste of the Valley also serves as a competition for vendors through a panel of judges. “They taste and judge, and we give first and second prizes to the winners,” Lively said. “Another fun thing that the crowd gets to participate in is when they come in, they get a ticket and at the end of the night, they go around and pick their favorite restaurant. Whichever has the most tickets at the end of the night gets our People’s Choice award.”

In addition, attendees can enter to win a raffle for dinner or lunch for two each month for an entire year. “The people that have won it call me all the time because they love it. That is another fun thing that we have going on,” Lively said.

Funds from the event help to benefit the variety of programs the Morgan County Volunteer Center offers, which include providing heating and cooling units for the elderly, building wheelchair ramps, helping local children and teens at Christmas and more.

Lively said in addition to having some crowd favorites return to the event, Taste of the Valley is also welcoming some new vendors, like north Alabama wineries and craft beers. “It’s the first time we actively sought out wineries and breweries, and that is just going to be another added element this year,” Lively said.

Lively said the evening is business casual, and everyone is welcome. “It’s a fun night out – just a great family event,” Lively said.

Event tickets are on sale now for $20 or two for $35. Tickets will be $25 the day of the event. Call 256-355-8628 or visit vcomc.org for additional information or questions.