Taste of South Pasadena food festival

The 12th Annual Taste of South Pasadena took place on Tuesday, May 19, from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. in the heart of downtown South Pasadena, according to the Rotary Club of South Pasadena and the event’s ticket page. The event was presented by the Rotary Club and spread along Mission Street and Fair Oaks Avenue, with food tastings, drinks, live music and a separate VIP wine and spirits component. (southpasadenan.com) We Like L.A. listed the event in its May 18-22 calendar, describing it as a family-friendly evening near Metro with more than 30 food and drink stops and adult general admission starting at $50. (welikela.com) ### When did it happen, and was it still ahead or already over? (welikela.com) Tuesday, May 19, 2026, was the scheduled event date, and the listed public hours were 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. on all three main references reviewed: the Rotary Club materials, Eventbrite and We Like L.A. Because today is Thursday, May 21, 2026, the festival has already taken place rather than remaining on the week’s upcoming calendar. Eventbrite also described the VIP wine and spirits tasting as a separately ticketed pre-event at Canoe House, 805 Fair Oaks Avenue, running during the same 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. window for eligible guests. (southpasadenan.com) ### Where in South Pasadena was the route set up? Mission Street and Fair Oaks Avenue were the main festival corridors, according to the Rotary Club and We Like L.A. The Rotary Club described the event as a walkable downtown celebration, while We Like L.A. said attendees could sample food along Mission and Fair Oaks. Eventbrite identified the venue more broadly as the “Heart of South Pasadena,” and the Rotary Club’s materials said the downtown route was designed around local restaurants, bakeries and beverage makers. (southpasadenan.com) The South Pasadenan said guests could stroll the route or use a free shuttle service. (eventbrite.com) ### What was included with a ticket? Adults’ general admission started at $50, We Like L.A. reported. Eventbrite said the festival featured “50+ favorite wineries and eateries,” while the listing’s detailed participant section described more than 30 food and drink participants and at least 20 wine and spirits stations for guests ages 21 and older with wristbands. (southpasadenarotary.org) Food tasting ran from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m., according to Eventbrite, and the listing named participants including Gus’s BBQ, Griffin’s of Kinsale, Handel’s Ice Cream, Mike & Anne’s, Tomato Pie Pizza Joint, Trader Joe’s, Yuca’s Pasadena and Radhika Modern Indian. The South Pasadenan separately highlighted neighborhood names such as Gus’s BBQ and Griffin’s of Kinsale and referred to the event as a restaurant tour and fundraiser. (eventbrite.com) ### Was it only a tasting event, or were there other activities too? Live music was part of the evening on both ends of the route. Eventbrite said Katie Ferrara was scheduled to perform at the Metrolink Park from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m., while Carbé and Durand were listed for Canoe House. (welikela.com) The Rotary Club described the event as a community gathering with neighbors, families and local businesses, and We Like L.A. called it a family-friendly atmosphere. Those descriptions align with the broader setup of food stops, downtown walking, music and designated beverage areas rather than a single-site tasting hall. (eventbrite.com) ### What were organizers raising money for? The Rotary Club of South Pasadena said ticket sales support its service work, including youth programs, scholarships, community grants and humanitarian efforts. The South Pasadenan reported that 2026 proceeds were designated for Eaton Fire Relief, local high school scholarships, the South Pasadena Interact Club and the Corazón House Build in Mexico. (eventbrite.com) The South Pasadenan also said the previous year’s Eaton Fire Relief edition raised more than $40,000, with proceeds used to buy replacement items for more than 500 fire survivors after the January 2025 fires. (southpasadenarotary.org) ### Where can people check details now? We Like L.A.’s May 18-22 event roundup still carries the core listing, including the date, hours, ticket starting price and general format. The Rotary Club of South Pasadena’s event page also remains the primary organizer source for updates and background on the fundraiser. (southpasadenarotary.org) Eventbrite’s listing preserves the ticket-page details on location, participants and the VIP tasting setup. As of Thursday, May 21, 2026, those pages are the clearest public references for anyone checking what ran on May 19 and how the event was structured. (eventbrite.com) (welikela.com) (southpasadenan.com)