Food, fun and family.
That’s exactly what attendees at the Food Truck Friday event at Evans Towne Center Park enjoyed Friday, March 24. This event is held at least once a month, but sometimes twice, from March to October, said Janet Wheatley, Columbia County programs and events manager. Those in attendance get to listen to live music and browse the different food and beverage vendors set up.
“It’s a fun way for people to get out, bring the whole family,” Wheatley said. “There’s usually several different food options.”
The event started as a Boots, Brew and BBQ event a few years ago, and because it was so popular, the county decided in 2021 to hold it once a month, Wheatley said. The event did so well the decision was made to expand it to Evans and Gateway Park in Grovetown. This year the event has been expanded even more to include Eubanks Blanchard Park in Appling, so it now rotates between Evans, Grovetown and Appling.
“We have anywhere between 1,000 and 2,500 people that attend, depending on the weather,” Wheatley said. “Gateway is pretty popular (with around) 700 to 1,000 (attendees). Appling, last year we had about 500, but I think that will grow.”
Wheatley said the Evans Towne Center Park event usually has the most food trucks, anywhere between 20 and 22, and that includes food trucks, dessert trucks and coffee trucks. Gateway Park usually has 15 to 17 vendors, while Eubanks Blanchard Park has eight to 12. The difference in the number of vendors is due to the size of the parks.
At the Friday, March 24 the event was held at Evans Towne Center Park, Jaclyn Combs, of Grovetown has attend the event in Grovetown previously, but not the one in Evans. She was looking forward to trying out the variety of food available.
“Reggies (Twister BBQ) use to have these heart attack fries, but they no longer have them, so that’s a little bummer,” Combs said. “I’m excited to try pizza and just any kind of BBQ.”
For Malia Lawson, who is a student in the area, it was her first time at the event.
“I think it’s pretty cool,” Lawson said.” I’ve seen a lot of interesting things. This Vietnamese truck, I’ve never seen a Vietnamese food truck before. So I think that’s pretty cool.”
Katrina Golden, with Lil Mama’s Sweets and Treats, was one of the food trucks out Friday evening. The business sells a variety of homemade desserts, which she said are “made from scratch, nothing from a box.”
This is the third year of bringing the food truck to the Food Truck Friday event, and Golden said it’s always great to come out and see everyone.
“Seeing the people, seeing the other food vendors,” Golden said of what she enjoys most about coming to the event. “If you’ve done it enough, you make friends, so it’s kind of like the first couple are like a reunion.”
The events take place from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. on Fridays and the live music, which changes each time, starts at 7 p.m.
A few days before the event a list of vendors is posted on the Columbia County Parks, Recreation and Events Facebook page. Those who are interested in becoming a vendor can contact 706-868-3484.
