After having to cancel last year’s event, the Springfield Rotary Gourmet Food Truck Competition is back for a seventh year, featuring palate-pleasing mobile cuisine and live entertainment in an environment that is fun for all ages. The community-favorite event will run from 11am to 9:30pm Saturday, Sept. 11 at Veterans Park in Springfield.
“We are pleased to be able to bring this charitable event back to Springfield this year,” said Eddie Bell, Rotary member and Food Truck Competition marketing committee chair. “It is an amazing way to bring the community together to make a difference. The best part about this event is that 100 percent of the proceeds go toward various causes, including services to people with disabilities and scholarships.”
The 30 food trucks competing this year have a wide variety of cuisines that are all gourmet and stand out in their own unique way, with the ultimate goal of winning the $10,000 grand prize. From Mexican, Asian, Latin, Mediterranean, Peruvian, Puerto Rican, South African and Creole choices, to gourmet sandwiches, BBQ, waffles, seafood, and sweet treats and desserts, the trucks lining the park’s pathway will cure any craving while creating new ones along the way. The Springfield Food Truck mobile app features the entire list of trucks participating, along with all other event information.
In addition to the $10,000 grand prize, a $5,000 runner-up and $2,000 third-place prize will be decided by a panel of five local professional chefs and at least five roving anonymous volunteer judges. Chef judges for this year’s competition feature an all-Springfield-based panel including:
- Micah Berner, owner of Cecil and Lime
- Chef Lisa Freeman, head chef and co-owner of Le Torte Dolci Bakery
- Chef Clayton Horrighs, of Speakeasy Ramen
- Chef Doug McGregor, owner of Seasons Kitchen
- Chef Troy Wheat, of All Seasons Catering
All attendees can also vote via the Springfield Food Truck mobile app throughout the competition for their favorite food truck to receive the $1,000 “People’s Choice” award. All winners will be announced on stage at approximately 4:45 pm.
Live entertainment throughout the duration of the event starts at 11 a.m. with the marquee college football matchup of the weekend between Ohio State and Oregon shown on a jumbotron, and will continue through 9:30pm with three Ohio-based musical acts on stage including Factory Line at 3:30 pm, The Repeating Arms at 5:15 pm and Red Idle Rejects at 8:15 pm. View the complete entertainment schedule here.
“We encourage attendees to come early, bring their lawn chairs and blankets, and stick around all day for the entertainment and to enjoy all the gourmet treats the competition has to offer,” said Bell.
While admission to the event is free, attendees will be able to make donations to help support Springfield Rotary’s causes via PayPal during the event, and will be purchasing items from the full menus that food trucks have to offer. A beer garden open throughout the event will feature craft beer from Springfield’s Mother Stewart’s Brewery, Michelob Ultra, Budweiser and Bud Light, as well as White Claw. Water and a selection of soda will also be available.
