By: Shane Bagot
The Ave describes Taste of Vineland as its “signature event of the year,” bringing together local restaurants and community members for an evening of food and volunteer recognition.
For $45 per ticket, attendees can sample signature dishes from more than 20 participating local restaurants.
In addition to celebrating Vineland’s cuisine, the event recognizes the volunteers and community partners whose contributions support The Ave’s work throughout the year.
Taste of Vineland will take place on October 21, 2026, from 6 to 9 p.m. at the Greenview Inn at Eastlyn Golf Course, located at 4049 Italia Avenue in Vineland.
The Ave is organized into four volunteer teams: economic vitality, promotions, organization, and design. Together, these teams work to enhance and promote Landis Avenue as a thriving district for the community.
Russell Swanson, executive director of The Ave, works with the organization’s teams to support downtown businesses and community activities. According to Swanson, The Ave plays an important role in creating a welcoming atmosphere throughout Vineland’s diverse community.
“If we’re going to bring thousands of people down for a car show or for a parade, it’s an opportunity for some of the businesses to capitalize on some of the crowd. So, it’s constantly just kind of working with the business owners, the property owner, and then the general community, trying to make a welcoming, inviting place for them to come,” said Swanson.
Vineland’s diverse community is reflected in its restaurants, including those serving Mexican, Puerto Rican, Jamaican, and Italian cuisine. For Swanson, the variety of cuisines reflects Vineland’s cultural diversity and illustrates how food can bring people together.
Taste of Vineland provides an opportunity to showcase that variety of local cuisine. The event features a buffet-style format in which participating restaurants offer samples of their dishes.
Local businesses can showcase their signature dishes while attendees enjoy the food and company of others.
Another important aspect is the volunteer recognition at the event. This year’s Volunteer of the Year is Heidi DeBartolomeis, recognized for her longstanding contributions to community events and beautification efforts. Jacob Colon, Alyssa Giercyk, and Kaelin Zheng will collectively receive the Community Partner of the Year award for creating social media videos promoting downtown events and businesses, according to the Greater Vineland Chamber of Commerce’s event announcement.
Swanson emphasized the importance of volunteer participation in The Ave’s work.
“For us, it’s critical, and it’s one of the things that being a nonprofit really allows us to do. I think differently than if we were just an arm of government, as an example. We have always had a strong volunteer base with this organization, and we depend on that,” said Swanson.
For Swanson, Taste of Vineland offers an opportunity to recognize the volunteers who help The Ave support downtown businesses and organize community events throughout the year.
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This article was produced as part of Follow South Jersey’s student journalism program, which provides aspiring journalists with practical experience in professional news reporting and writing.
