Food truck fans will soon have one more opportunity to sample a wide range of grab-and-go dishes and beverages as the city of Aurora will host its third and final Food Truck Festival of the year on Friday.
The festival will be held on Benton Street between Broadway and River Street in downtown Aurora from 5 to 9 p.m. Friday.
The summer Food Truck Festival held on July 18 received strong support after being offered for the first time, city officials said. The summer event joined the longstanding spring Food Truck Festival held during the first week in May. The fall Food Truck Festival set for Friday is the second year an autumn version of the event will be held.
Similar to the summer event, organizers said the Food Truck Festival on Friday will offer about 35 vendors with a large number not seen before in Aurora.
Aurora Community Events Coordinator Christina DiCristofano said adding new faces “is a way to make sure we keep things interesting.”
“We had 36 trucks a year ago and 34 to 36 this time. That’s about our sweet spot,” she said. “I have actually increased the number of vendors for this fall that haven’t been here – close to 10. I’m really excited to bring some new and different things.”
An apple cider and doughnut truck will be on hand for an autumn touch, she said.
DiCristofano said the city is “excited to have a fall Food Truck Festival to bring people together and to support our local food trucks and vendors so that those people have opportunity as well.”
“People know the weather is changing and things are cooling off and it’s going to be a while before we have another Food Truck Festival after this,” she said. “The mid-summer event was a perfect one to have people come during the summer months and I think people are always looking to do things when they can – outdoor events – and it’s one that brings people together for food and entertainment.”
Entertainment at the fest on Friday will include music, a balloon and bubble artist, jugglers and more.
“We have quite a few things going on this time to get people out the door from home and enjoying the last Food Truck Festival,” DiCristofano said. “We don’t keep statistics but we feel like a lot of people are repeat customers who have come to all of these events as well as there being a mixture of first-timers who are drawn from other suburbs farther out.”
For more information on Friday’s fest, go to https://www.aurora.il.us/Recreation-and-Amenities/Events/Special-Events/Food-Truck-Fest
David Sharos is a freelance reporter for The Beacon-News.