Clermont’s Waterfront Park drew a large crowd on Thursday, November 5, as the 15th Annual Taste of South Lake & Business Expo sold out with roughly 1,200 guests sampling food, connecting with local businesses and enjoying live entertainment. The South Lake Chamber of Commerce event has become one of the area’s signature community gatherings, pairing local restaurants with exhibitors from across the business world.
According to Lake & Sumter Style, organizers confirmed the sold-out crowd reached about 1,200 attendees this year, with guests sampling food and beverages from 29 participating local restaurants and organizations. That tally differs from a separate recap by SLT Tablet, which described more than 60 local restaurants and business booths at the event, while the Chamber’s own pre-event listing had advertised free samples from 35 restaurants and 35 businesses from various industries, per South Lake Chamber of Commerce. The accounts give differing vendor figures.
Whatever the exact count, cuisines ranged from American to Italian to Indian and beyond, as Mid Florida Newspapers reports, with the expo offering food samples, local products and services, and chances to connect with business owners and residents. AdventHealth and Comcast Business served as presenting sponsors of the event, and the full evening was built around food, entertainment and networking, per the same outlet.
Live Music And A Packed Waterfront
The Chamber’s event listing had scheduled the expo from 5 p.m. to 8:30 p.m., with VIP early access running from 4:30 p.m. to 5:15 p.m., according to the South Lake Chamber of Commerce event listing. Main-stage entertainment kept the crowd moving throughout the evening, with performances from Mark Houghton, School of Rock Clermont, Rob Nichols and DJ Don Spivey, per the same account.
The night doubled as a showcase for the Chamber’s broader mission, as the expo supports the organization’s goal of fostering connections among residents, restaurants and local businesses, Mid Florida Newspapers notes. The Chamber hosts Taste of South Lake as a signature community event each year, and footage of the night can be viewed at southlake.tv, with more information on upcoming Chamber programs available at southlakechamber-fl.com.
Who Took Home Top Honors
All of the evening’s big winners showed off their prizes after the judging wrapped, according to Mid Florida Newspapers. Guru Indian Restaurant’s master chef Uday Kadam and staff won Best Entrée, continuing a strong showing for the restaurant at the annual event. Clermont Oyster Bar took Best Appetizer, Nothing Bundt Cakes won Best Dessert, and Fumao Table claimed the People’s Choice Award.
On the beverage side, Suncreek Brewery & Distillery won Best Alcoholic Beverage and Lake Technical College took Best Non-Alcoholic Beverage, outlets report. The View Restaurant earned Best Food & Beverage Booth, while Rockstar Expeditions won Best Business Booth, rounding out a night that recognized outstanding food, beverages and business exhibitors with awards across multiple categories.
A Long-Running Clermont Tradition
The event has a track record of strong turnout in Clermont. The 14th annual Taste of South Lake, also held at Waterfront Park, featured around 70 local restaurants and businesses and drew around 1,200 people from all over, according to a Mid Florida Newspapers report on that year’s event. Back in 2022, the 11th annual festival drew more than 70 restaurant and business vendors and exceeded expectations with more than 1,200 attendees, with Guru Restaurant owner Uday Kadam also winning Best Entrée that year, the same outlet reported at the time.
Organizers are already looking ahead. SLT Tablet reports that the 16th Annual Taste of South Lake & Business Expo is scheduled for Thursday, November 4, 2027. Mid Florida Newspapers reports that the event will be held at Waterfront Park in Clermont.
