Tunes, tastes go hand-in-hand at food truck competition
Whether you like music with your food or food with your music, Springfield Rotary’s Gourmet Food Truck Competition has treats for your ears, mouth and nose.
Like the competition, the entertainment menu features a variety of choices on the Veterans Park Amphitheater stage when the popular event returns for its fourth year from 11 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 12 in Veteran’s Park.
THE FOOD
Thirty-eight food trucks featuring gourmet hot dogs, gourmet sandwiches, Pierogies, Empanadas, Cuban, BBQ, Mexican/TexMex, Italian, Carolina Coastal, American, Seafood, Jewish, Farm Raised, Asian, Latin, Mediterranean and sweets will be on site.
Live bands will perform from 11 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. and the Beer Garden will be serving domestics, local craft brews from Springfield’s own Mother Stewart’s Brewing Company. Other alcohol options include Bud Light, Yuengling Lager and Red Hook IPA and Pinot Grigio. Soft drinks and water also will be available.
This year’s event will also feature for the first time a people’s choice award.
THE MUSIC
“We have a lineup of all sorts of genres from acoustic to bluegrass to reggae, a little something for everybody,” said Eddie Bell, Food Truck Competition marketing committee chair.
The music starts when the event opens with a pair of solo acoustic performers – Andy Fox from 11 a.m. to noon, followed by Patrick Dawson, 12:30-1:30.
Bluegrass band Mad River Railroad continues from 2:15-3:15 and country group Allison Road, 4-5. An intermission of sorts will come 5-5:30 when the Food Truck Competition awards ceremony occurs.
The tunes continue with Grateful Dead cover band Terrapin Mon, 5:45-7:15 and The Ark Band will close out the evening with its reggae sounds, 8-9:30 p.m.
“The music really rounds out the event,” said Bell. “We want people to come down for a day. The area allows to set up chairs if people want.”
A FEW THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE YOU GO
Bring lawn chairs and blanket to the event as seating is limited.
Pets must be kept on a leash, according to National Trail Parks and Recreation rules.
PARKING
Designated handicap parking:
Springfield Art Museum Veterans Park Amphitheater in the grass lot off of Plum Street Other designated parking:
Cliff Road off Fountain Avenue
Springfield Center for the Arts at Wittenberg University (Springfield Museum of Art)
Springfield Regional Medical Center, 100 Medical Center Drive
Covenant Presbyterian Church, 201 N. Limestone St.
Kissell building, 30 Warder St.
Veterans Park Amphitheater (grass lot off of Plum Street)
North and East parking lots of The MacRay Building (100 W. North St.)
Legal parking locations on the streets of the neighborhoods surrounding Veterans Park
Both sides of Warder Street between Limestone and Water Street along the bike path behind Kapp Construction
Huntington Bank at 5 W. North St.
Springfield Regional Cancer Center, 148 W. North St