Foodies beware: SoupStock is back during the second-to-last Thursday Night Live of 2017.
The free summer concert series winds down for the year with headliner ChristiAna and the ninth edition of SoupStock from 6-9 p.m. Sept. 14 in downtown Jefferson City. During the SoupStock festivities, attendees can buy a ticket and ballot to taste and judge soups from 14 area restaurants for $5.
Gumbo Bottoms Ale House, the Grand Cafe and Madison's Cafe will have soups there. Other participating restaurants include Arris' Pizza, Bones in the Alley, Spectators Bar and others.
SoupStock began in 2009 and pre-dates Thursday Night Live. Event planner Jill Snodgrass said it has become a popular fall event ever since.
"It started out as a way to generate extra funds back in the day, and it just became a really popular event," Snodgrass said.
Only 400 SoupStock tickets will be sold. Some participating vendors are selling tickets ahead of the event. Advance tickets can be bought at places like Prison Brews, the Capitol Grill and Love2Nourish, among others.
"Last year, we were sold out by 6:40 p.m.," Snodgrass said. "So people who get there late are often disappointed."
As always at Thursday Night Live events, wristbands allowing people 21 and over to buy alcoholic beverages sell for $2. Organizers advise those under 16 years old be accompanied by an adult.
Instrumentalist '90s alternative and rock cover band 2 Screws Loose will be the opening act.
Waynesville's ChristiAna will headline the evening. Her shows feature country, rock, funk alternative, and rhythm and blues songs.
This event will be the second-to-last Thursday Night Live concert of the year. The final Thursday Night Live will happen Oct. 26. During the Halloween-themed Zombie Night Live concert, people are encouraged to dress as zombies. Staff from local Walmart stores will also be on hand at the Oct. 26 event to paint faces, and a zombie flash mob will dance to Michael Jackson's classic song "Thriller."
Snodgrass said it becomes much harder to hold Thursday Night Live events once school starts, because parents and students become pre-occupied by school and sports during weeknight evenings.
"They're just not as well attended," Snodgrass said. "That's why we have just two in the fall."