Alabama beach city to host first-ever food truck festival
An Alabama beach city will host its first-ever food truck festival next month.
Stoughton, Massachusetts-based Food Truck Festivals of America will host the Coastal Alabama Food Truck and Craft Beef Festival on Saturday, November 12 and Sunday, November 13, at the Town Green area of the Gulf Shores Public Beach.
The event will run from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. each night.
“This is the first food truck-specific event we have hosted in the destination and Food Truck Festivals of America has had much success across the country, including other beach locations,” said Michell Russ, vice president of sales, sports and events for the Gulf Shores & Orange Beach Tourism.
“Attendees will be able to sip and savor with the Gulf of Mexico as the backdrop,” she said.
Residents and visitors will get a chance to sample from more than 20 food trucks. As of Friday, there were 24 food trucks listed for the event on the festival’s website.
The Coastal Alabama Business Chamber will operate a beer tent that will sell over 30 national, regional, and local craft beers, ciders, wine and spirits.
The festival will also include lawn games, music and an artisan market made up of local businesses and crafters.
It’s a family-friendly event, which one city official says is similar to other festivals the city hosts such as the Waterway Village Zydeco & Crawfish Festival in April.
Admission to the event is free.
“This event intends to expose the community to a wider variety than what we’re used to seeing on a regular basis,” said Councilman Steve Jones, referring to food trucks. The city does not have a large number of regular food trucks, but they are allowed to operate under the city via regulation established about three years ago, Jones said.
The festival has taken place in other beach cities, with the closest occurring in Panama City Beach, Floria.
Specialty beer and food packages are available for purchase online only. A tentative truck and beer line up list is at www.foodtruckfestivalsofamerica.com.