Novi High School's annual Tastefest returns Friday, Sept. 25, pairing food trucks and a youth community night with varsity football against the Hartland Eagles.
Gates open at 5 p.m. with food trucks outside the stadium; entry into the stadium isn't required to visit the food trucks. The Wildcats' home game against Hartland kicks off at 7 p.m. with a $6 admission fee, the Novi Athletic Boosters announced on X.
The event doubles as one of the boosters' biggest annual fundraisers. Kaija Juszak, the NAB vice president who chairs the Tastefest committee, has organized the event for multiple years. The June 3 NAB meeting minutes confirmed the Sept. 25 date and Hartland matchup.
In past years, Tastefest has featured a Fun Zone for younger kids alongside the food vendors. The 2024 edition drew seven food trucks and several vendors inside the stadium, with TDR Orthodontics sponsoring the Fun Zone. Organizers expected approximately $10,000 in profit from that event, according to the September 2024 NAB meeting.
The same evening also serves as a Wildcat Youth Night, with kids in kindergarten through sixth grade admitted free. Kids must be accompanied by an adult — it is not a drop-off event. NAB's Facebook page promoted the evening as a combination of food trucks, youth night and football.
Novi head football coach Logan Pawloski leads the Wildcats into the matchup against Hartland. It's the latest in a Tastefest tradition stretching back at least to 2022, when the event drew what organizers called a "huge" turnout.
The NAB's next general meeting is Wednesday, Sept. 9, where Tastefest updates are expected. Residents can find details on the Novi Athletic Boosters website or by emailing [email protected].
Coming up:
- Wednesday, Sept. 9: Novi Athletic Boosters general meeting
- Friday, Sept. 25: Tastefest at Novi High School, gates open 5 p.m., kickoff 7 p.m.
