Taste of Tucker and Music Under the Stars Return

An all-out block party takes over Church Street in Tucker today, Saturday, Oct. 8. Between 4 p.m. and 8 p.m., Music Under the Stars and Taste of Tucker return for an annual celebration of music, food and fun.

“We are so excited!” said event co-founder Karen Wood. Wood and her husband Art, of Hometown Lenders, first organized Music Under the Stars seven years ago as an outreach of . They added Taste of Tucker to showcase local cuisine in 2010. The first combined event drew approximately 400 people to Church Street, and Wood hopes for an even greater turn out this year. 

Admission to the event, as well as all musical performances, is free. Food and kids activities will be available via a ticket system, with each Taste of Tucker sample plate costing between one and four tickets.

From its conception, the Music Under the Stars event and the later addition of Taste of Tucker, have been about bringing Tucker residents together. “It’s about community. Our initial goal was church oriented and to introduce the different styles of [music] we have to offer, but even more than just bringing them to hear bands from these various churches, it’s to just let people see what the community has to offer,” Wood said. “Tucker is growing and changing and we want to get people out in a fun way to witness that and celebrate all that is going on in this community.”

Music Under the Stars will feature adult and youth praise bands. Adult bands include The Forgiven from TFUMC, Sozo and Eleven Standing Still, as well as bands representing and Mount Carmel Christian Church . “I Spy the Sailor,” a youth band from McDonough Christian Church will appear, as well as a TFUMC youth praise band.

The Battle of the Praise Bands will take place on an outdoor stage between the TFUMC Activities Center and the main church building. Audience members vote by making monetary donations in the name of their favorite band. Donations will benefit two local charities: NETWorks and the Atlanta Chapter of Habitat for Humanity.

Taste of Tucker returns for a second year in conjunction with Music Under the Stars. “I think we’ve had a good community response to [Taste of Tucker],” Wood said. “People are really excited about it. A lot of the community associations have asked if we were having it again this year, so I think it really has the ability to continue to grow."

Fourteen local restaurants are participating in Taste of Tucker. Participating restaurants include:

• Marlow's Tavern
• LongHorn Steakhouse
• Moe's Southwest Grill
• Local No. 7
• Mama Mia's
• Ai Tunes Karaoke Lounge
• Smoke Rise Country Club
• Twisted Taco

Music Under the Stars and Taste of Tucker continue to grow in part due to the support of several local businesses. Restaurant Equipment Services, on Royal Atlanta Drive in Tucker, is the event’s main sponsor. Other sponsors include:

• Aqua Salon
• Stars and Strikes
• Roberts Media Solutions
• Artistic Dentistry of Atlanta
• Tucker Animal Hospital
• DeKalb Animal Hospital
• LaVista Dentistry
• Cofer Brothers
• Go Creative Go

Wood holds a clear vision of continued growth for the future of Music Under the Stars and Taste of Tucker. She hopes to expand the event’s opportunities to support local businesses. “We love to be supportive of our community and the businesses on Main Street. There are great opportunities for Tucker to continue to grow,” Wood said. “I think that there are a lot of good things that are coming our way.”