TASTE OF UNION COUNTY

Jeff Petrusek and Hailey McAllister prepare to enjoy an entree a la fresco at Mamacita's International Grill in La Grande courtesyof Sandy Sorrels. (Staff photo/CHRIS BAXTER).

LA GRANDE - Join your friends at the "Taste of Union County" two-day festival Friday and Saturday in downtown La Grande.

Two full days of great food, live music, dance performances and local art displays and demonstrations await at Max Square.

The festival is kicked off at 5 p.m. Friday with a fundraiser for the local chapter of the American Red Cross. For $20 you can sample 15 mouth-watering entrees from area restaurants. Entertainment will be offered on the Max Square stage and on Fourth Street.

At 5 p.m. enjoy Circle Dancing, followed by toe-tapping music by Debbie Rudd at

6 p.m. To finish off Friday night in high style, everyone is invited to a street dance to kick up their heels to the popular sounds of Al MacLeod and Friends from 7 to 10 p.m.

Local vendors offering up their tasty entrees are Bear Mountain Pizza, Cinco De Mayo Family Restaurant, Cock & Bull Villa Roma, Dianne Pfel, Foley Station, Grande Cuisine Catering, Joe & Sugars, La Fiesta, Mamacita's, Mo's Cookies, Poppy's Tastee Dogs, Ten Depot Street, Traeger Wood Pellet Grills and the Union County Dining Center.

Tickets for the food-tasting event are available at Sunflower Books, the Union County Chamber of Commerce, the Hobby Habit and the Red Cross office.

The fun continues Saturday morning with the Farmers Market opening at 9 a.m. followed by more great music, dance, art and food until 3 p.m. Children are encouraged to take part in the sidewalk art activities.

Enjoy the Egyptian art display in the Cook Memorial Library, or watch live art demonstrations or purchase local art.

Saturday entertainment includes international dancing at 9 a.m.; children's dancing at 10 a.m.; the musical sounds of local band "Killing Pat" at

11 a.m.; dancing with the Star Promenaders at noon; "Three Legged Dog" at 1 p.m.; and Cajun dancing at 2 p.m.

For more information call Patty Gooderham at 963-6257 or Di Lyn Larsen-Hill at 963-3104.