ROBERTSDALE, Ala. — For just $25, per person, guests at the Central Baldwin Chamber of Commerce’s “Flavors of the South” will be able to sample delicious foods from a wide variety of local restaurants, taste some wine from local distributors, and admire indoor gardens set up at the Baldwin County Coliseum. There’s also going to be a silent auction and live music by “Cool Change.”

Mark your calendars for Aug. 21. The fifth edition of the annual fete will begin at 6 p.m. and run until 8 p.m. Tickets will be available at the door.

“There are three reasons to have this event,” said Marian Mason, the executive director of the Central Baldwin Chamber of Commerce. “The first is to have local restaurants and caterers show off their wares. They get to select what they want to show off. We have asked the vendors to prepare 500 bites, so people will just get a plate and walk around. We have a diverse selection, so people should just walk and taste.

“This is just a fun way for people to see what’s out there. You don’t have to travel to see what a restaurant is like,” continued Mason giving the second reason for having the event.

And the third reason?

“This is one of two fundraisers for the Chamber,” said Mason. “We’re also giving a portion of the proceeds to the Central Baldwin Education Foundation. I’m very excited about that — it should give them a shot in the arm.”

The importance of “Flavors” can’t be overstated, says Barbara Boller, chairperson of the event, and a member of the Chamber’s executive board.

“This is the largest fundraiser for the Chamber,” said Boller, who added that she is in her second year as chairperson of the event.

“We’re just trying to get everything pulled together,” Boller said

According to Boller, “Part of the proceeds are going to the Education Foundation. The event is going to be a lot of fun, and there will be a lot of opportunity to network.”

Discussing the event with her organizing committee a few weeks beforehand, Boller went over the jobs that was needed to be filled — everything from people to help set up the hall to those needed to take the event apart, and everyone in between.

“We need to get as many ambassadors as we can get. They won’t be without jobs,” said Boller.

An “ambassador,” according to Mason is, “Typically someone who is an employee of a Chamber organization, and we have some retired individuals who like to stay involved with Chamber activities.”

“We want to make this the biggest event in Baldwin County,” said Mason. “We have the location.”

According to Mason, the large hall at the Coliseum will be an asset, allowing the Chamber to do something that has not been done at previous events

“We are going to have five or six landscaping businesses come in and do displays,” said Mason.

With four previous events under their belts, Chris Bonner of Rivera Utilities, a first-year board member knows the event will be a success.

“We do a similar event for Rivera Utilities,” said Bonner. “We do a lot of the same things, and it is just a great event.”

According to the Central Baldwin Chamber of Commerce, tickets for “Flavors of The South” can be purchased at the following locations:

— Bryant Bank in Daphne and Foley.

— Coastal Title, Foley.

— Summerdale Town Hall.

— Silverhill Town Hall.

— Loxley Town Hall.

— Vision Bank in Robertsdale.

— Sweet Treats Bakery, Robertsdale.

— United Bank, Silverhill.

— Central Baldwin Chamber of Commerce office, Robertsdale.