Taste of Minnesota festival pulls up stakes for good

A Taste of Minnesota is folding.

Linda Maddox, the summer festival’s general manager, announced the closing and her retirement on Thursday via the event’s Facebook page. Her declaration would appear to put an end to the once-thriving annual celebration, which got its start in St. Paul in 1983 and has been held in Waconia the last two years. Maddox’s late husband, Ron, was one of festival’s founders.

News that the July 4th festival is ending took its entertainment director by surprise. “Don’t count it out,” said Jack Koshick.

http://www.startribune.com/taste-of-minnesota-festival-closes/370166551/