Video by Megan Perez, SCVTV

The rain held off long enough Sunday for Santa Clarita residents to enjoy food, wine and beer samples for some of the SCV’s top restaurants at the Child & Family Center’s 25th Anniversary Taste of the Town at Mann Biomedical Park in Valencia.

For a $65 entry fee, visitors had about four hours to eat as much as they want from free samplings provided by local restaurants, such as Jersey Mike’s, Bella Cucina, Nana’s Banana Bread, Salt Creek, Robinson Ranch and about three dozen more. There were also VIP tickets available for $100.

“We really appreciate the support of the community,” said Cheryl Jones, vice president of Child & Family Center Foundation. “This was our biggest and best event yet, and it was our 25th anniversary.”

The event works as a partnership with the food and beverage vendors that come down, with all of the food being volunteered by the participants.

“It’s a nice partnership with the exhibitors so it’s a win-win,” Jones said. “They get the exposure and it helps keep our costs low, so the bottom line is that the money goes toward helping the children in our community.”

The sponsorships were higher than last year so we want to thank the businesses that support our community,” she added.

More than 2,000 enjoyed the event this year, but the final tally for how much the event brought in was still being counted, she said.

In addition to admission and sponsorships, there was also a silent auction.

Jersey Mike’s offered sandwich samplings from a tent set up in the theme of the restaurant’s Jersey Shore origins complete with sand, while Robinson Ranch Country Club provided gourmet sliders under an adjacent tent.

The sub shop made 80 “giant” sandwiches — which are about 15 inches long — for the event, and only had a couple of leftovers, said Amy Sandberg, director of marketing for Jersey Mike’s.

“We have participated for several years now, and every year seems to tops to last,” Sandberg said.

There were also several different beer and wine vendors at the event.

The event is regularly one of the most well-attended events in the Santa Clarita Valley, and has been voted Best Charity Event several times.

“(Taste of the Town) is one of the premier events that the Santa Clarita Valley puts on every year,” said Bill Pecsi, of Santa Clarita, who’s a member of the board of directors for the Castaic Lake Water Agency. “It’s great that everyone comes out for one of the best causes.”