Even After Political Drama, Organizers Hold 7th Annual Hood Taste Of Buffalo

Just about two months after officials from the City of Buffalo shut down the originally scheduled event, organizers and food vendors held the 7th annual Hood Taste of Buffalo, albeit having to move from the city into Cheektowaga, New York.

After moving from a backyard to the Johnnie B Wiley Sports Pavilion to a large space on Buffalo's east side, the festival had the kibosh put on it by the Buffalo Police Department, even after years of previous support. This year, the festival has moved to Buffalo's second-largest suburb as city officials declared the event had been canceled.

This homegrown food festival, which has grown from a small backyard gathering to a cultural phenomenon, features food and drink vendors, plus other small retailers, and community groups that you don't get the chance to see at the larger festivals that happen in Buffalo.

READ MORE: Buffalo Police Shut Down Hood Taste Of Buffalo Before It Begins

Dilly Cannon started the Hood Taste of Buffalo in 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic, but as it's grown, so has the scrutiny that it's received from the powers that be.

Ed Nice Jackson

Even after the cancellation and missteps by both organizers and the government, the event happened on Alexander Avenue in Cheektowaga, and people who attended were able to get thier taste of the parts of Buffalo you don't normally get to see or experience.

Overall, it's the 7th year and we're here. We've got vendors here, people have come shown up to support. Unfortunately, what happened in August was out of my hands. But I still like to apologize to everybody for that. But it's the Hood Taste, 7th year, man, it's been 6 years straight, no nothing, no issues, no problems, great food and fun
Dilly Cannon, HTOB

The festival organizers promise a bigger and better event in 2027, and we're ready to see it happen.