The second annual Eat 2 The Beat, a free festival on the City's waterfront, held took place on September 24, 2011 at the Gates of the City. The event was created by a partnership between Mayor Will Flanagan and The Herald News to celebrate the diversity of the city's food offerings. The area around the Gates buzzed with fans as bands played from noon to 8:00 p.m. before a crowd of several hundred. More than a dozen local restaurants offered food at a line-up of booths. Food vendors included Bayside Restaurant, St. James Irish Pub, CD-Recreation, Sausage King, Fiorentina Italian Kitchen, St. Michael's Church, and Patti's Pierogis. The Mayor threw "Eat to the Beat" tee shirts to the crowd before they listened to bands that included tribute band to Bon Jovi (Bon Jersey), The Rolling Stones (Blushing Brides) and Aerosmith (Draw the Line). Click here for the Herald News article about the event. Click here for photos of last year's event.

(Top row, left) Volunteer Karen Medeiros gets a ride on the back of the golf cart that Mayor Flanagan and Chief of Staff Ann O'Neil-Souza were driving at the Gates of the City. (Top row, center) Tony Farias of the Sausage King vending truck serves up some sausage and grilled vegetables to serve Nathaniel and Zachary Roberts of Fall River who are waiting at the counter. (Sgt. Ron Furtado and Officer Fred Mello answer some questions posed by Wayne and Sharon Silvia of Swansea. (Middle row, center) Blushing Brides band members Daniel Hoffenberg, Maurice Raymond and Lee Boice entertain the crowd with some familiar Rolling Stones tunes. (Bottom row, left) CD-Recreation executive director Grace Gerling serves up some burgers to waiting customers. (Bottom row, center) Bernadette Varao rolls up Eat to the Beat tee shirts for Mayor Flanagan to toss to the crowd later in the evening. (Bottom row, right) Kylie Carroll takes an order for fish and chips from Gene Pacheco and his children, Savannah and Hunter.