Discover Great Local Eats and Entertainment at the First Erie Food Truck Festival

Saturday, June 2nd

As far as culinary trends go, food trucks are one of the latest to enter the cultural lexicon, and their popularity has led to one of the season's most anticipated events. Erie is no stranger to festivals and block parties, but with 16 food trucks, five bands and almost half a dozen local breweries appearing, the inaugural Erie Food Truck Festival is shaping up to be one of the city's largest yet. According to organizer Kate Philips, the festival is anticipating several thousand guests.

"As soon as we announced, the festival was trending locally, and we have now more than 12,000 people interested in the festival on Facebook," says Philips. "It's been a true pleasure for our committee members to overhear people chatting about the festival at the grocery store or at their kids' sporting events."

Featured breweries include Arundel Cellars, Black Monk, Erie Brewing, Lavery, and VooDoo. The local lineup on the Northwest Stage is comprised of Whiskey For Three, Jack Stevenson and Jackson Station Unplugged, First to Eleven, Key West Express, and Lindsay Vendetti with Charlie Meyer. Vendors include McCollough's Ice Cream, Hawk's Smokehouse, Fat Boys Philly's, and many more. Philips elaborates on the appeal of these food trucks to local foodies.

"A big part of what I love about food trucks is the direct cook-to-client experience," says Philips. "This spring, I traveled to Rincon, Puerto Rico, where a food truck alley was established...it was fanciful, accessible, laid-back and charming all at the same time. These trucks were gathered as a destination, and that's exactly what the Erie Food Truck Festival will be...I'm hoping that our patrons will have a similarly exciting experience."

An entrepreneur, Philips understands the courage and resources it takes to manage a business — even a mobile one. But if the community's response has been any indication, she has no doubt the Erie Food Truck Festival awaits an even bigger future.

"At its heart, running a food truck is running a business while doing something you love — the perfect combination for a joyful profession. A terrific example, our festival t-shirts will be made on site by No Dress Code Studios, a locally owned mobile t-shirt screening business. The excitement is so palpable that we are already planning to extend to a two- or three-day event next year. Erie was hungry for a local food truck festival and we are planning to deliver a terrific experience." — Aaron Mook

1 p.m. to 8 p.m. // Water Street, Lawrence Park // $5 Entry