Taste of Rosefest makes a local and global impact
Enjoy an evening out at the Muriel Sahlin Arboretum during Rosefest
When you think of Rosefest, you probably think of the Rose Parade that draws over 10,000 people to cheer on local groups and marching bands. Or perhaps you think of Party in the Park at Central Park—the bouncy houses, petting zoo, and fireworks lighting up the night sky. But if you're looking for a night out away from the noise and an opportunity to make an impact on the community, consider Taste of Rosefest.
On the third Thursday of June every year for the past 18 years, the Rotary Club of Roseville has partnered with the City of Roseville and other community groups to host an evening of fun just for adults.
The 21+ event includes food and drink donated by local establishments and an evening with your neighbors in the beautiful Muriel Sahlin Arboretum at Central Park (2525 Dale St N). Participating restaurants include Axels, Centro, Keys Cafe, La Tapatia, Little Venetian, Parkway Pizza, The Tipsy Steer, and more. Live music from a violinist, a tuba quartet, and the Roseville Lutheran Church Jazz Band helps create a warm ambiance for conversation and mingling.
"Come for the community, come for the fun, and at the same time your money is going to do good," said Jerry Hromatka, Chief Operating Officer for the Rotary's Taste of Rosefest.
Though he lives in Northeast Minneapolis Hromatka got involved with the Rotary Club of Roseville through past work with Northeast Youth and Family Services in Shoreview. He enjoys Taste of Rosefest so much that he keeps coming back year after year to help organize it.
"A good friend of mine said, 'Hromatka, you are retired. Why are you still doing this?' And I said, 'Because it's a great event and it's great people to work with and it's a lot of fun outdoors,'" Hromatka said.
In addition to food and entertainment, Taste of Rosefest includes a silent auction and a 50-50 raffle organized by the Kiwanis Club. Raffle tickets are sold at the event. The winner of the raffle receives half of all raffle ticket sales; the other half is split evenly between the Rotary and Kiwanis clubs.
From local to global impact
Proceeds from the event help fund the Rotary's service activities both in the local community and around the world. Seventy percent of the funds raised at Taste of Rosefest are reinvested locally into things like scholarship programs, Every Meal, the Ramsey County Library in Roseville, local elementary schools, Roseville Parks projects, youth leadership programs, and support for other local nonprofits.
To highlight one example, the Roseville Rotary Club was a major contributor to the Spark Lab at Central Park Elementary School. Rotary's initial seed funding helped launch the program, which has since been recognized with a STEM Innovation Award for increasing student engagement in science, technology, engineering, and math and encouraging greater participation in advanced coursework.
"It's not only helping engage kids, but it's engaging their parents as well," Hromakta said.
Kids who participate in these programs in elementary school are more likely to be interested in STEM education in secondary school too, he explained.
Through Rotary International, the global organization, the Roseville Rotary also helps fund libraries in Uganda, solar projects in Nigeria and Ethiopia, refugee assistance programs, water and sanitation projects, education initiatives, and economic development efforts in communities around the world. It was Rotary that initiated a worldwide polio vaccine program that has since established partnerships with numerous governments, charities, and other groups.
In the 18 years of Taste of Rosefest, the Rotary has raised $550,000 for projects like these.
"We're a nonprofit service organization and our goal is to do good in the world. As an organization, we are 1.4 million people worldwide," said Kathy Hughitt, Executive Secretary of the Roseville Rotary Club.
Locally, there are 40 members in the Roseville Rotary and 2,300 members in the local district. Roseville's Rotary Club was founded in 1970 under the leadership of Ed Bather. But it was Jeanne Matlock, Roseville Rotary Club President from 2007-2008, who dreamed up the idea for Taste of Rosefest when she envisioned a community party in the park.
"Personally, I thought her vision was too big a project for our club, and obviously she did not know any better and went ahead and created it," said Loren Swanson, current President of the Roseville Rotary Club.
The inaugural Taste of Rosefest was in 2008 and it's been a successful fundraiser ever since. Each year, the money raised is matched through a Rotary district grant and Rotary International, which enables the local club to spend around $50,000 annually—and sometimes more—on projects that make an impact locally and around the world.
A night for community
According to Hromakta, though, Taste of Rosefest goes beyond fundraising. It's a chance to connect with your neighbors, enjoy local food and drink establishments, and celebrate the many community groups that make Roseville what it is.
The vendors donate their fare to Taste of Rosefest and their employees are given wristbands in order to experience and enjoy the event too.
When people arrive at Taste of Rosefest, there's usually already a line of people eager to get in. Rotarians are standing by to greet guests and give each person a nametag in order to help facilitate conversation and connection. It's a come-as-you-are, casual affair that will happen rain or shine.
While rain may derail other Rosefest festivities, Taste remains protected from inclement weather thanks to the Rotary’s collaboration with Friends of Roseville Parks to purchase canopies for both Taste of Rosefest and Tapped and Uncorked. The City of Roseville stores and transports them for these events.
Last year, Roseville was hit with a summer soaker the day of Taste of Rosefest. That morning, the organizers met with the business community and the city to decide if they needed to cancel the event. In the end, they decided to stick with the original plan. And thankfully, the rain stopped right before the event started and didn't start again until after Taste of Rosefest was over.
"At 4:30 people showed up in that sloggy weather and they came with smiles on their faces and raincoats on and they were ready for it," said Hromakta.
Experience the Rotary
Although Taste of Rosefest happens just once a year, the Roseville Rotary Club meets every Monday for a lunch meeting. Visitors are always welcome to attend on Mondays at noon at the Cedarholm Community Building (2323 Hamline Ave N, Roseville).
"We are a group of people that work together to get things done. If there are more of you out there who would like to be part of an organization like this, we are seeking new members. I invite you to stop by and attend one of our meetings to see if this is something that would make your life better!" said Swanson.
Get your Tickets to Roseville’s Garden Party Thursday evening June 25th at Central Park’s Arboretum ($10/savings)
Disclosure: This feature article was published as part of an in-kind sponsorship agreement between the Roseville Reader and Taste of Rosefest.
The Roseville Reader maintained editorial independence over the content of this article.
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