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Mike Sage tends the grill at Q-It-Up Catering during Taste of Kalamazoo on July 31, 2013. The event, which got its start in the late 1980s, has offered food from more than 30 restaurants as well as wine and beer.

(James Buck | MLive File)

KALAMAZOO, MI - One of Kalamazoo's oldest summer festivals has been scratched this year as its organizer looks to refocus it.

Tastes & Brew of Kalamazoo -- known for many years simply as Taste of Kalamazoo - will not be staged this summer. The event, which features food from many area restaurants, caterers and breweries, is on hiatus until a new festival concept is developed.

Dana Schmitt, live events manager for Townsquare Media's Kalamazoo/Battle Creek market, was quick to say the new concept will continue to focus on food.

"We are looking to make some changes and so, as of this current time, Taste of Kalamazoo is not going to be taking place for 2016," Schmitt said.

The festival, which has been held the fourth weekend of July at the Arcadia Creek Festival Place, got its start in the early 1980s as the "Taste of Downtown." At its inception, it featured about a dozen downtown restaurants and was organized by local eateries that are now no longer in business, such as Chaps on Main, Dionysis, and Oakley's.

In 1991, the management of Chaps on Main took over management of the event and renamed it the "Taste of Kalamazoo," according to the event's website. Over the years, participation in the event grew to more than 30 restaurants and caterers. As it has grown, the event also grew to include live music and wine and beer, as well as food.

The event was coordinated for years by Wayne Deering and Events Inc., but in 2015, Townsquare Media became manager and control of the event.

"It was just a business decision," Schmitt said of the decision to forego the event this year. " ... The festival itself, for a number of years now, has not been financially successful."

She said Townsquare Media is looking for a new concept that will still involve a lot of area restaurants and caterers, but that will be a totally new concept.

Townsquare hopes to make an announcement of a concept that could be staged in 2017.

Greenwich, Conn.-based Townsquare Media manages events nationwide and is the owner/operator of more than 300 U.S. radio stations, including four in Greater Kalamazoo and two in Battle Creek. The locals include: 103.3 - WKFR; 107.7 WRKR; 102.5 - country; and 1360-WKMI. The Battle Creek stations include FM 95.3 - WBCK and 104.9 - The Edge alternative rock.

MLive writer Al Jones may be contacted at ajones5@mlive.com. Follow me on Twitter at ajones5_al