They expected thousands, and they may have got thousands more than expected.
Organizers of Guelph’s first Big Downtown Food Truck Picnic said all the ingredients came together for a very successful event on Sunday.
There were a couple of snags, an omission or two, but Jakki Prince, owner of Sweet Temptations Cupcakery and an event organizer, said it will definitely be done again, and in the same Exhibition Park venue if possible.
Eight mobile food vendors parked along the park, and the lineups to their windows extended for up to 50 meters throughout the day. The public wasn’t too enthused about the lineups, but the food was given high marks.
The event started at 11:30 a.m., but Prince said customers started lining up before 11 a.m., which caused some added stress for vendors.
“I’m elated,” she said. “It was perfect weather, and people are obviously hungry for food trucks in the downtown.”
Ten per cent of all food sales went to Big Brothers Big Sisters of Guelph, and the public was also invited to donate directly to the organization. Prince said it is obvious that the organization is much loved, judging from the generous support it received.
She said one thing the event certainly could use is live music, and that will be looked at as an option next time. Exhibition Park is a perfect location, she said, because it is highly walkable, an important community landmark, has a great playground, and lots of open space.
Donna Ireland was digging into fries and gravy from the Schmuck Truck. A fan of the television show Diners, Drive-ins and Dives, she drove into the event from Fergus.
“I thought I would come and try the real thing,” she said.
The food was great, she said, despite the long line-ups and a general lack of shade on the hot day.
Jodee Weber traveled from Listowel for the event. She said the availability of water was a problem. There was a water tanker on site, but you had to bring your own cup. Not everyone did.
“But I would definitely come again,” Weber said.
