MIDDLEBURY — A new kind of community festival experience, “Foodaroo,” is coming to downtown Middlebury on June 21, from 3-8 p.m. Presented by Middlebury UndergrounD (MUD) and Town Hall Theater, this daytime, family-friendly event unites some of the state’s most talented culinary artisans. Food trucks and craft purveyors from across Vermont converge on the town square, offering Foodaroo attendees a taste of the best this state has to offer. It’s a celebration of summer, shining the spotlight on the farm-to-table lifestyle. The backdrop of this culinary bonanza features a variety of eclectic acts — from street performers and buskers to leading local bands, including The Grift, Josh Panda, Francesca Blanchard, and Kat Wright & the Indomitable Soul Band.
FOOD
On this first day of summer, a dozen food purveyors from across Addison County and throughout Vermont will bring their craft to downtown Middlebury. Imagine Argentinean grill-stoked meats and paella; wood-fired pizza celebrating the season’s harvest; farm-to-spoon ice cream; seductive, pork-centric farm-to-face feasts; local vegetables just uprooted and pickled; a mobile bakery to beguile your senses; down-home Cajun barbecue; international classics with a local twist, and much more.
The event highlights a rich diversity of cuisine, all crafted with a common love and devotion to locally sourced ingredients. Working in cooperation with local farms, Foodaroo is a celebration of all foods Vermont — and of the locavore movement that has become a hallmark of the state. A taste of vendors in attendance: The Hindquarter, Phantom, NOFA-VT’s Mobile Pizza, Lu.Lu, Southern Smoke, New England Culinary Institute, The Diner, Jam Bakery, Farmers & Foragers, Two Brothers Tavern, Hog & Harvest, and more surprises. 
MUSIC
As the kick-off event of Town Hall Theater’s summer season, Foodaroo utilizes their grounds in a new and innovative way. Bands will rock Middlebury from the top of Town Hall’s front steps. Looking out over a blocked off Merchant’s Row and the town green, some of Vermont’s most talented musicians entertain the crowd as people feast on local fare. Clint Bierman, Peter Day and The Grift team up with Josh Panda to start things off, playing with members of “Rock-It Science” in a prelude to the renowned weeklong music school hosted by Town Hall Theater. Then, local artist Francesca Blanchard will mellow out mid-day with stunning singing and melodious guitar. As the light gets golden, headliner Kat Wright and the Indomitable Soul band turns up the volume to bring it home with soulful style. 
STREET PERFORMANCES
Another unique facet of the Foodaroo experience is its festival atmosphere. In addition to exquisite food and music, street performances play throughout the day. Led by accomplished fire-wielding acrobats, performing gravity-defying feats, Foodaroo’s streets are alive with the carnival spirit — and copious surprises.
MUD Events is a new series dedicated to bringing our community together around unique, shared experiences — spanning art, music, film, food, nature, space, education and more. MUD Events builds on its signature MUD Talks series. Both feature inspiring people doing extraordinary things — inside Vermont and with ties to it.
This MUD Event is brought to you by Middlebury UndergrounD (MUD) and Town Hall Theater, and is sponsored by Woodchuck Hard Cider, Aqua Vitea, the Middlebury Natural Foods Co-op, and Elmer Farm. General admission to enjoy the music and street performances on Merchants Row is free. Tickets for the tasting experience are available by cash or check only on Merchant’s Row the day of the event. Beer, wine, hard cider and other non-alcoholic drinks are available through Town Hall Theater. 
For more information, or to sponsor part of the event, contact Lisa Mitchell at (802) 388-4277, email [email protected], or visit www.mudtalks.org.