Bill Prest, chef at Julian Gray’s Catering in Struthers, left, serves food to Kelly Matanin of Hubbard during the 12th annual Taste of Hubbard held Sunday at Harding Park. Staff photos / Bob Coupland

HUBBARD — Nearly 300 people spent four hours Sunday afternoon sampling food items from Hubbard area restaurants, caterers and businesses while helping to raise funds for a bell tower project at Harding Park.

The 12th annual Taste of Hubbard had 25 restaurants, vendors and food businesses set up in the park where people could try many entrees and a variety of desserts.

Mary Buchenic of the Taste of Hubbard planning committee said this year the event sold out with 300 tickets. She said they usually limit tickets to between 300 and 400 to help restaurants know how much food to prepare.

She said the event raises around $10,000 annually, with more than $80,000 raised in the past 11 years through the event and other fundraising efforts.

The Taste of Hubbard committee is raising the funds to have an architect design a structure on which to place the historic bell tower for display at the park.

“The bell tower is at the entrance to the park so everyone sees it. We want to have the bell placed on a beautiful structure, which could be open for weddings and others events. We are still discussing whether to have an open structure or an enclosed structure. We are in the process of making that decision,” Buchenic said.

The bell came from the 1857 Old School Presbyterian Meeting House.

Hubbard resident Scott Killian was helping at the ticket table as people lined up to get tickets to sample the food.

“This is a good hometown event that gets a lot of people out and trying some really good food. This is probably the biggest year yet. There are a lot of local businesses that have great food. The Haitian Sensation of Sharon, Pa., and Cimmento’s BBQ were really good,” Killian said.

Molly and David Smith of Hartford, formerly of Hubbard, were seated inside a dining area of the park and said they have attended every year.

“This is really the best year ever. There is so much food to sample. I love being able to sample so many varieties of food. There are places I have never tried before. We have to take some food in to-go containers home,” Molly Smith said.

Joining the Smiths were Theresa and Chris Colella of Hubbard.

“We love the barbecue from Cimmento’s. I love the greens from Eagle Grille and Tavern. They are so good. There is so much to sample. There is more than enough food,” Theresa Colella said.

Dawn Bruckman of Pizza Works in Hubbard said the event allows her to showcase different types of pizza that people may have never tried before.

“We have so many types of pizza. People loved the apple pizza and pineapple pizza,” she said.

In addition to the event-planning committee, the group gets help from Hubbard Rotary and the Hubbard Park Board.

bcoupland@tribtoday.com