Dinner on Main returns Sept. 20 for ninth annual farm-to-table fundraiser

The Town of Kingston Springs has announced that its popular Dinner on Main fundraiser will return for its ninth year on Sunday, Sept. 20, with tickets now on sale for what has become one of the community's signature annual events.

Hosted by the Town of Kingston Springs Parks & Recreation Department, Dinner on Main brings together acclaimed local chefs, seasonal ingredients and neighbors for an evening celebrating local food and community. Tickets are $150 each, with purchases limited to four tickets per transaction. Organizers expect the event to sell out quickly, as it has in previous years.

"Our 9th annual Dinner on Main event in Kingston Springs is Sunday, Sept. 20," City Manager John Lawless said. "The core of this event is a fundraiser for our Parks Department, but it has evolved into much more than that. It's a showcase for local foods and the talent of our local chefs that provides creative, delicious appetizers, entrees and desserts, beautiful atmosphere and a farm-to-table community celebration."

Since its debut in 2017, Dinner on Main has grown from a fundraiser supporting the Kingston Springs Farmers and Artisans Market into one of the town's most anticipated traditions. Each year, volunteer chefs create a multi-course menu featuring locally grown ingredients, while guests gather for an evening of exceptional dining, live music and community fellowship.

Longtime participating chefs have included Kingston Springs residents Hal Holden-Bache, executive chef and co-owner of Lockeland Table, Deb Paquette, Amy Davis-Bruce and Mike Turpin, whose volunteer efforts have helped establish Dinner on Main as one of the community's premier annual events.

Originally held down the center of Main Street, Dinner on Main was relocated to the Farmers Market lot on Park Street in 2023 because of public safety concerns. City officials said the previous location required extensive road closures staffed by firefighters and police officers, making it difficult to respond quickly if an emergency occurred elsewhere in town. The move has allowed organizers to preserve the event while reducing demands on emergency personnel.

Despite the venue change, Dinner on Main has remained one of Kingston Springs' hottest tickets, routinely selling out shortly after tickets are released.

Tickets are available through the Kingston Springs Parks & Recreation website. Lawless encouraged residents to purchase early, noting that tickets "sell fast."