For one Tuesday evening each May, the sidewalks of Mission Street and Fair Oaks Avenue turn into one long, leisurely tasting menu. The 12th Annual Taste of South Pasadena, presented by the Rotary Club of South Pasadena, returns May 19 from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m., with more than 50 restaurants, bakeries, wineries and spirits vendors setting up along the main South Pasadena commercial corridors.
Last year’s event, branded as the Eaton Fire Relief Taste of South Pasadena, raised more than $40,000, with 100 percent of proceeds going to purchase replacement items for over 500 fire survivors who had lost belongings in the January 2025 fires. Guests, the Rotary Club has said, helped fund replacement furniture, home goods, musical instruments, record albums and even an antique quilt. This year’s proceeds will support Eaton Fire Relief, local high school scholarships, the South Pasadena Interact Club and the Corazón House Build in Mexico.
Walkers can sample signature dishes at more than 30 food stops on the main route, with a free shuttle available for those who would rather ride between bites. A separately ticketed VIP Wine and Spirits Tasting, held at the Canoe House at 805 Fair Oaks Ave., features 19 wineries plus additional spirits vendors and is restricted to guests 21 and older with wristbands. Live music plays throughout the evening, and organizers describe the event as family-friendly and dog-friendly.
The event is co-sponsored by the City of South Pasadena. Ticketholders pick up wristbands at registration tables near Canoe House and the Mission Street train station.
The 12th Annual Taste of South Pasadena will run on Tuesday, May 19 from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. Along Fair Oaks Avenue and Mission Street, South Pasadena. For event details, call (626) 460-0591 or visit tasteofsouthpasadena.com.
