By all accounts, the Taste of Annandale on Sept. 20 was a big success, as thousands of community members of all ages enjoyed performances, culinary delights, and much more.
The Eileen Garnett Civic Space was filled with more than 100 vendors and 12 food trucks.
The Taste of Annandale, hosted by the Annandale-Mason Roundtable, however, did more than provide a fun day out: It shone a light on Annandale while promoting a sense of community spirit and highlighting local businesses and organizations.
Children had a chance to make friends with the alpacas and other animals at the “Animaldale” petting zoo, get hugs from Bluey, Bingo, and the gang from Paw Patrol at the ACCA Child Development Center, and play the arcade games at the Annandale High School PTSA’s Game Zone. For adults, there were several types of beers from Caboose Commons.
Patrick Deans of Annandale was the overall winner of the Taste of Annandale 5K, held for the first time entirely in Mason District Park. The top female finisher was Hannah Safford, of Arlington.
The first-ever Taste of Annandale Eating Contest drew more than a dozen competitors. The winner, James Clark, demolished a Vietnamese bahn mi sandwich in record time, taking home a trophy and a $100 prize. Alex Tran came in second, winning $50 and a trophy.
The Annandale Volunteer Fire Department won the Chili Cook-Off, beating the Mason Police District.
At the Pet Costume Contest, Henry Ho’s dogs, Odin and Kiki, snagged the Best in Show award. Regan Dahlberg’s dog, Lucy, nailed the Funniest category while dressed as a chicken, while Nadina Nasr and Leo, an American cocker spaniel, took home the prize for Best Human-Pet duo.
The Pet Contest winners took home gift cards from Paw Mind Body, the Lake Barcroft Dental Group, and event organizer Jamie DeSimone, a realtor with Keller Williams.
Community festivals tend to draw politicians, and this one was no exception. Newly elected Congressman James Walkinshaw, Mason Supervisor Andres Jimenez, state Sen. Dave Marsden, Clerk of the Court Chris Falcon, School board members Ricardy Anderson and Ilyrong Moon, Del. Vivian Watts, Del. Marcus Simon, and Cincinnati Mayor Aftab Pureval all made an appearance.
Parking seemed to be less of a problem this year, as lots of people opted for the free shuttle bus from Annandale High School.
The Annandale-Mason Roundtable thanks the sponsors, partners, planning team, vendors, and volunteers who helped make the Taste of Annandale a success.
Taste of Annandale - September 20, 2025 