A new food festival aiming to draw up to 10,000 people is coming to Saddlebrook Resort on March 13, 2027.

The Taste of North Tampa Bay, organized with the North Tampa Bay Chamber of Commerce, will recruit restaurants from Lutz, Land O' Lakes, Wesley Chapel, New Tampa, Dade City and other Tampa Bay communities, according to Neighborhood News, which first reported the event.

Chamber, resort and veteran organizer join forces

Hope Kennedy, president and CEO of the North Tampa Bay Chamber, first announced the festival at a VIP chamber event at Saddlebrook on Sept. 17. Gary Nager, owner of Neighborhood News, will handle restaurant recruitment and promotion. Nager organized the Taste of New Tampa for more than two decades before that event went on hiatus during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Freddie Wyatt, vice president of business and partnerships at Saddlebrook Resort, will work on booking musical acts and possibly celebrity chefs while helping secure sponsors and vendors.

"We've got 484 acres of land here. We can fit as many restaurants on these grounds as you can get, Gary," Wyatt said at the organizers' first planning meeting, as reported by Neighborhood News.

The resort, which completed a $92 million renovation in November 2025, offers more than 200,000 square feet of indoor and outdoor event space across its 480-acre property in Wesley Chapel.

Up to 80 restaurants could take part

Organizers estimate 50 to 80 restaurants could participate. Four Saddlebrook dining venues are already expected to provide samples: Rare 1981 steakhouse, the Goat sports bar, Brew coffee shop and Palmhaus outdoor grill. Nager's previous record was 57 participating restaurants.

Previous Taste of New Tampa events drew 5,000 to 8,000 attendees, though the final edition in 2019 drew about 2,000. A portion of net proceeds will go to local charities, though specific beneficiaries have not been named.

Ticket options and how to get involved

Ticket pricing has not been finalized, but organizers plan general admission and VIP all-inclusive options covering food and adult beverages. Overnight stay packages at the resort may also be offered.

Kennedy has said she hopes to expand the event to a full weekend in future years.

Restaurants, sponsors and vendors interested in participating can contact Nager at [email protected] or 813-910-2575, or the North Tampa Bay Chamber at 813-994-8534 or [email protected]. Organizers ask that inquiries not be directed to Saddlebrook Resort.