NORTHAMPTON — Now in its fourth year back from an 18-year hiatus, the annual Taste of Northampton festival will return to the Armory Street parking lot this weekend, bringing more to do — and eat — than ever before.

Running from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Saturday and 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday, this year’s free festival will feature, for the first time, two live music stages, along with a “health and wellness hub” showcasing local health and fitness organizations.

Eastside Grill Owner Debra Flynn, who serves on a committee tasked with organizing the annual Taste of Northampton said that while the festival still centers around food and drink, this year will feature the Miles for Music fundraiser — an 8.1-mile run, walk and relay from The Drake in downtown Amherst to the Iron Horse — on Sunday. Proceeds from the race will support both nonprofit music venues.

“A lot of people that are coming into the community, they might be just passing through, and they’re thinking ‘Wow, this is amazing. This is a really great fundraiser,’ or a really great community activity,” Flynn said. “This year especially, it’s going to bring a lot more than just food.”

The festival dates back to the 1990s and early 2000s, when it was a wildly successful four-day affair and reportedly served as a model for “Taste of” events in other New England towns. It took a hiatus in 2004 but was brought back to life as a single-day festival in 2022, and as a two-day festival last year.

The State Street restaurant India House has been part of Taste of Northampton every year since the festival began. Restaurant Owner Amit Kanoujia, reflecting on past years’ festivals, said he sees Taste of Northampton as being not just a cuisine fest, but a community gathering that puts the city in a regional, if not national, spotlight.

“It’s definitely an advertisement for the restaurant, but it’s also an advertisement for the city of Northampton and everything that it has to offer,” Kanoujia said. “I love the timing of this festival because it’s right around the end of summer. We’re going into the fall, and you know New England is known for the fall foliage … this is the start of a new academic year for the colleges, so we are also welcoming a lot of people from across the country, across the world.”

India House, Kanouja said, will this year serve a non-alcoholic version of its dragon-fruit margarita, along with its buttermilk chicken tenders seasoned with Indian spices and served over waffles — a popular dish at last year’s Taste. The restaurant will also serve an Indian version of pumpkin risotto.

Each year, the restaurant owner said he looks forward to the “hustle and bustle” of the event as large crowds of people swarm the more than 30 restaurants. He said he feels a sense of pride in his community when foodies from across the country gather to sample “a taste of Northampton.”

“When you just see the the the parking lot full, and I see people just getting the lines of people, and you know people bumping into each other, it really just reinforces the sense of community, and I love it,” Kanouja said. “It’s great when you see a group of maybe three or four people come down and they all disperse and you see them all trying the different stuff … It’s just the vibe in general, that’s what I enjoy the most.”

This year, parents can also take their children to an expanded “kid zone,” with arts and crafts and educational hands-on activities presented by A2Z Science & Learning and WillowRoot.

The Downtown Northampton Association (DNA) leads the festival’s organization each year.

“The Taste of Northampton is all about celebrating what makes our downtown such a special place,” DNA Chair Amanda Shafii wrote.

“Last year’s Taste of Northampton was a fantastic success, and I’m thrilled to see it continue to grow,” Mayor Gina-Louise Sciarra said in a statement. “This year’s event will bring even more food, music, and activity downtown. It’s a wonderful weekend that celebrates our restaurants, music venues, local businesses, and the incredible community that makes downtown Northampton such a special place.”

For a complete performance lineup and more information, visit https://nohodna.org/the-taste-of-northampton/.