Darrell Blasius said he is thrilled that despite tougher economic times, Taste of Kokomo’s eagerly anticipated menu will not be any shorter this year.

Twenty-five local restaurants are set to offer up samples of their food from 5 to 11 p.m. Saturday on the courthouse square in one of Kokomo’s favorite — and tastiest — annual fundraisers.

“You know we’re all going to go out and eat anyhow, right?” said co-chairman Blasius with a laugh. “[This way], it’s going to help somebody out.”

Co-chairman Brian West said the fundraiser serves as the unofficial kickoff to the United Way season and helps set the tone for the weeks of fundraising to follow.

“Not that it dictates to see how it’s going to go,” said West. “But it’s a good indication, and in my personal opinion, I think Kokomo is on an upswing.”

Blasius, who heads up restaurant selection, said his focus this year was on finding new, local eateries to bring to the festival, to offset the closing of some long-standing restaurants in the last few years.

“I like chains, don’t get me wrong, chains are great, but if we don’t keep our mom-and-pops going, they aren’t going to be around,” he said.

New restaurants this year include Ben’s Soft Pretzels, Create-A-Cake, The Buckhorn, Halftime Sports Bar, The Vault, Whiskey Creek and more.

And Blasius said it’s not hard to see why — the fundraiser both raises money for United Way and provides the opportunity to show off tasty food to thousands of customers.

“We get 10,000 people between 5 and 11 p.m.,” he said. “That’s a lot of exposure. You’re not going to go anywhere to get exposure like that.”

From southern cooking to Mexican to velvety desserts to specialty drinks, the Taste has it all — for an affordable price, said Blasius. Admission is $3, and tickets cost $1 each. Tickets may be exchanged for food purchases, which range from one to five tickets.

There also will be a beer garden and refill station located on opposite sides of the courthouse.

And the entertainment schedule will be as beefed up as the food this year, with eight local bands providing nonstop entertainment on two stages from 5 to 11 p.m., said West.

With a taste of every kind of music — from retro hits from the ’60s and ’70s to classic rock, to alt country and southern rock to Christian tunes — there will be something for every ear as well as every mouth on Saturday.

West said five of the eight bands either gave up paying gigs or reworked their schedules to accommodate the Taste, and all eight donate their time for the event.

West said the music gives people a chance to dance, sing and visit with old friends.

“I think that Kokomo is a very giving community, and it’s a chance to come down and maybe see people you haven’t seen since last year,” he said.

The sister event to the Taste, the Backyard Grillmaster Challenge, will return Saturday as well, as amateur chefs offer up their tastiest ribs, burgers and chicken to hungry judges at Buckeye and Superior streets. Head out early, as the people’s choice awards will be from noon to 3 p.m.

New this year will be the Kids Q category. With adult supervision, children from 4 to 12 will grill up savory hot dogs. For more information on the challenge, call 765-457-6691.

The kids’ corner will once again return to the Taste with bounce houses, games and for the first time, a chalk-drawing contest.

Participants in three categories, from ages 5 through adult, will create artwork on the sidewalks around the children’s area. Prizes will be awarded for artists in each category.

“It’s a night out on the town for the whole family,” said Blasius.

• Erin Shultz is the Kokomo Tribune Life & Style editor. She may be reached at 765-454-8587 or erin.shultz@kokomotribune.com.