Ladera Ranch, are you ready to ROCK?!

On Saturday and Sunday, May 1 and 2, the Annual Taste of Ladera will once again rock Founder’s Park and entertain local adults and children alike!

In fact, our sixth year will be bigger and better than ever before, featuring an all-star music line-up, a Kitchen Couture Fashion Show, the Orange County Talent show, and a Family Fun Zone Carnival that has doubled in size and fun!

Attendees will experience all of that plus the opportunity to sample deliciously amazing foods from local restaurants.

We have a fabulous team planning an amazing weekend for you and your family!

The Taste of Ladera is produced by Event Complete and supported by Platinum Sponsors Riptide Rockin’ Sushi and Teppan Grill and The Derby Deli and Dueling Piano Bar to help give back to almost 20 local charities.

For the last several months, our Taste of Ladera Committee has been working diligently to build an exciting event that will be perfect for the entire family!

Now, let’s talk music. Taste of Ladera is known for bringing such amazing acts as Sugar Ray, Berlin and the Go-Sheilas to Orange County, and this year will be no different! In fact, this year we will have the greatest band diversity ever seen at Taste of Ladera!

Ready for some name dropping? We’re excited that Lit, English Beat, When In Rome, The Motels, and Bow Wow Wow are among some of the bands that will perform on stage at our event.

Lit – Saturday’s headliner – has had numerous hits and has performed with such well-known bands as No Doubt, Kid Rock and The Offspring.

Their single "My Own Worst Enemy" was the No. 1 hit on the Billboard Hot Modern Rock Tracks for three months running.

And their very memorable music video for the song "Miserable" shows the band with a bikini-clad Pamela Anderson.

Also joining us on the main stage Saturday afternoon (at 2:00 p.m.– so get there early!) is The English Beat. Their hit songs "Can’t Get Used to Losing You," "Mirror In the Bathroom," and "Hands Off She’s Mine" have led to touring gigs with David Bowie, The Clash, The Police and R.E.M.

And we haven’t forgotten the local musicians. Fullerton’s very own Good Man Down will be performing! They recently played during the Professional Bull Riders National Finals in Las Vegas and wrote the title track for the bull-riding documentary "This Is Not A Rodeo."

Then there’s Ted Lennon, the protégé of Jack Johnson. Lennon’s music has a mellow blend of melodic folk with the laid back mentality of the surfer town he grew up in.

His hit song "So In Love" features Colbie Caillat and Jack Johnson. Jack Johnson is also featured on Lennon’s track "Face Up."

And how about a fashion show? This year we’re proud to welcome the Kitchen Couture Fashion Show.

Created by mother and daughter team Dalyne Easley & Michele Fox in 2008, Kitchen Couture is the result of their desire for a distinctive line of elegant, fun and flashy aprons that cater to a variety of fashion-savvy shoppers.

Their refined, modern, and sexy kitchen aprons can be worn for everyday cooking or with heels to entertain the most elegant of guests.

We’re also turning up the heat and making things sizzle with a Top Chef Challenge. Watch while local chefs compete to create the best dish with a healthy spin. Local restaurant owners and surprise celebrity chefs will serve as judges.

On Sunday, it’s time to relive a blast from the past with some totally awesome 80s musical fun!

Best known for their top 10 hits "Only the Lonely" and "Suddenly Last Summer," The Motels, featuring Martha Davis, will bring back those old dance moves!

Plus, you’ll see Bow Wow Wow’s Annabella Lwin! Lwin gained popularity with "I Want Candy," and her music has been featured in movies such as "Marie Antoinette" and "Desperate But Not Serious" and in the 2005 Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show.

When in Ladera, you’ll also get to see When in Rome! Best known for their 1988 single "The Promise," you won’t want to miss When In Rome rockin’ the main stage on Sunday, May 2, when everyone’s favorite DJ – Richard Blade – will help get our party hopping! Richard Blade has been on the airwaves for more than 18 years, spending time on the dial at KROQ, KNAC and Star 98.7 and currently hosting a daily morning drive show on Sirius XM Satellite radio.

Kids of the 80s will also remember him hanging out with Sarah Jessica Parker in "Girls Just Want To Have Fun." Now he’s ready to help friends at the Taste of Ladera have fun!

But wait! There’s more! For all the talented kids living in Orange County, Taste of Ladera is putting on a county-wide talent "OC Talent: Betcha Can’t Do That!"

The two day auditions for OC Talent Show will take place on April 1 and April 18 at The Ranch Sports Grill in Ladera Ranch.

A host of celebrity judges will encourage our talented youth. Not only will the kids get a chance to perform at Taste of Ladera, the local Taste winner will compete against the winner of the Giant Orange Festival talent competition at the Irvine Great Park.

Talented youngsters are encouraged to register at www.tasteofladera.com.

Last year’s fun and fabulous Derby Dueling Pianos will be pulling out all the stops for a rockin’ performance. And you also will be able to enjoy Barrelhouse Rockers and Mamazpalooza.