The smell of food from a dozen restaurants will be filling the air this Saturday in downtown Pleasanton with the return of the annual Forkful event.

Participants will go on a "self-paced tasting experience" as they stroll through downtown and stop at the 12 participating restaurants, according to a press release from the Pleasanton Downtown Association, which organizes the event. Guests will then taste each restaurants' "perfect forkful of food".

"Forkful is a great opportunity for our downtown restaurants to really showcase what they have to offer," Gabrielle Welk, events manager for the PDA, told the Weekly. "It's awesome for the restaurants to be able to interact with the community and answer any questions they may have. This unique event is bringing people from all over the Bay Area to see what our Main Street has to offer."

From the culinary delights to the complementary adult beverage tasting that will "highlight the food at select locations along the way," the PDA states that guests will truly be able to experience the diverse cuisine that downtown Pleasanton has to offer.

"After the event, guests will be able to vote on their favorite location to nominate a winner for Forkful's Best Bite of 2023," according to the press release.

The event will kick off on Saturday (Sept. 16) with a champagne reception at 3 p.m. and will end at 5 p.m. Guests can begin to check in for the event behind the Museum on Main, located at 603 Main St., at 2:30 p.m.

Downtown Pleasanton will be especially packed this weekend with people coming into the city for the several Amador Valley High School centennial celebration events that will be going on Friday and Saturday.

Main Street will also be closed to vehicles that weekend for the First Weekends on Main Street, which was pushed deeper into September in order to coincide with the centennial festivities.

Tickets are still on sale for $55 before tax at the PDA's website. If the association has not sold out by Saturday, people will be able to buy tickets at the door for $65. Learn more at www.pleasantondowntown.net.