Buffalo Township restaurants, vendors coming together for a Taste of Sarver

As covid-19 restrictions loosen, local organizations in Buffalo Township are encouraging people to come together and support local businesses hit hard by the pandemic.

Friends of Buffalo Township and the Buffalo Township Parks and Recreation Committee are teaming up to host Taste of Sarver, an event featuring local restaurants and vendors, on Sunday.

“This will be almost like a breakout from covid,” said John Haven, who serves as chairman for both Friends of Buffalo Township and the Buffalo Township Parks and Recreation Committee. “This will be the first big activity we have in Buffalo Township. We want everybody to come and have a good time.”

The event, which will be hosted from 1 p.m. till 4 p.m. on Sunday at South Pike Square, will feature free food samples from local eateries. Restaurants will also be selling full meals, and local vendors will be displaying their products.

La Vigneta Winery, which makes wine in Sarver and has tasting rooms in Export and Greensburg, is among the local vendors attending the event. They’ll be offering free samples and selling wine by the glass and by the bottle, said Francesca Howden, who owns the winery.

“It’s really exciting to be able to showcase our wines here in Sarver,” she said. “It’s nice to see the community coming together, and we’re definitely looking forward to connecting with the community and getting to know them and them hopefully getting to know us.”

A donation of $2 for adults and $1 for children ages six and older will help defray the costs of the event. There was no fee for vendors to participate, as Haven said they didn’t want to charge local businesses after many struggled during the pandemic.

“Hopefully it’s fun for the people, and for the vendors, it at least encourages people to come to their restaurants and their venues,” Haven said.

Vendors include Cellar Works Brewing, La Vigneta Winery, Tony’s Pizza Cafe, Big Shot Bob’s House of Wings, Smokin’ Toad’s BBQ, Lil’ Bean Backerei, Popped Envy Gourmet Popcorn, Emma + Jane Shoppe, Ritter’s Farm and Gabriel’s Gardens. Haven said a Kona Ice truck will also attend.

Emma + Jane Shoppe, a local boutique store that carries products from other small businesses and vendors in the area, will be selling a variety of locally-produced items at the event, said shop owner Nicole Saville. She plans to sell items from Steel City Salts, Oakmont Olive Oil and Uncle Jammy’s BBQ.

“I hope people show up,” she said. “It’s nice that we’re going to invite the whole community.”

Haven said he’s anticipating a crowd of between 300 and 400 people — and warm weather perfect for the event.

Buffalo Township Volunteer Fire Department, Sarver Volunteer Fire Department, Buffalo Township Police and Audubon Society of Western Pennsylvania will also be at Taste of Sarver. Haven said he hopes to have those organizations offer presentations about their work. The fire departments, he said, may explain how much equipment costs to buy and maintain.

“Hopefully it generates some interest where people give donations,” he said.