Submitted Photo
Minot Symphony Orchestra musicians Vonne Tarnavsky and Jennifer Livingston volunteer with preparations for the Great Tomato Festival.
The 34th Annual Great Tomato Festival, a community fundraising event, will be held Wednesday at the North Dakota State Fair Center’s 4-H Hall.
Doors open at 5:30 p.m., and social starts at 6 p.m. Dinner will be served at 7 p.m.
The event benefits the Minot Symphony Orchestra and Taube Museum of Art.
The festival was established in 1989 by Jeff and Peggy Miller, and has become the annual end of summer gourmet picnic. The menu consists of smoked pork chops cooked by master chefs, a top-secret recipe of roasted tomatoes stuffed with rice, along with chips and salsa, tomato and cucumber salad, beer batter bread and brownies.
The evening includes entertainment by the Dakota Dixie Jazz Band, creative tomato displays, a social hour serving tomato hors d’oeuvres, a getaways raffle and a silent auction. New this year is a community painting in the style of Chuck Close and a specialty cocktail.
The silent auction will include more than 200 auction items. There will also be the Great Chocolate Cake Revival, a selection of fancy chocolate cakes available to bid on and take home.
Volunteers can sign up to help with prep work or during the event at www.greattomatofestival.com.
Tickets are $35 at the door. Attendees must be 21 to attend. Advance tickets are available at Taube Museum of Art, Artmain, Visit Minot and online at www.greattomatofestival.com.
