Taste & Toast 2026 — Minnesota Landscape Arboretum

Wednesday, July 22, 2026 · 6:00–9:00 p.m. — Arboretum Gardens, Minnesota Landscape Arboretum, 3675 Arboretum Drive, Chaska, MN 55318, United States.

Taste & Toast is the Minnesota Landscape Arboretum's annual after-hours food-and-drink fundraiser, staged at peak bloom in the Arboretum's main gardens. The 2026 edition — the event's 17th year — welcomes up to 1,200 guests from across the Twin Cities, who sample complimentary tastes from a curated group of local restaurants, food trucks, breweries, cideries and wineries and then vote for their favourites.

Schedule (2026)

• 5:45 p.m. — Check-in opens (Patron Admission)
• 6:00 p.m. — Patron Admission access begins
• 6:40 p.m. — Check-in opens (General Admission)
• 7:00 p.m. — General Admission access begins
• 9:00 p.m. — Event concludes

Patron Admission (US$225) covers 6–9 p.m. access plus a Patron tote bag and an Arboretum-branded wine glass; General Admission (US$145) covers 7–9 p.m. access and a branded wine glass. This is a 21+ event: no children (including those in strollers or carriers) and no dogs other than service animals. The event runs rain or shine.

2026 Award Winners

• Judge's Choice — Best Bubbles/Wine: Mousse Sparkling Wine Co.; Best Beer: OMNI Brewing; Best Non-Alcoholic Beverage: Dry Wit
• Judge's Choice — Best Sweet Bite: Patisserie 46; Best Savory Bite: Heather's Minnetonka; Most Surprising Bite: Rootstock; Best Presentation: Chowgirls Catering
• People's Choice — Best in Show and Best Taste: D'Amico Hospitality; Best Toast: Earl Giles

Wine and beer selections include cold-hardy varieties developed at the Arboretum's own Horticultural Research Center, such as Marquette and Itasca.

Notes

One of the Arboretum's annual signature events, alongside Maple Fest, Gala in the Gardens and the Plant Sale. The 2027 edition has not yet been announced; the official event page currently carries the 2026 recap.

Source: official event page https://arb.umn.edu/events/taste-and-toast (2026-07-21 archived snapshot supplies the 2026 schedule and venue).