At this festival, if you don’t want what’s on the menu, then keep on truckin’.
About 25 food trucks will be at the annual Everett Food Truck Festival on Aug. 26.
And if you don’t want food (who doesn’t want food?), there’s beer.
And if you don’t want beer (wait, who doesn’t want beer?!), there will be live music and activities for kids.
Downtown Everett will be the epicenter of fun on Saturday.
The Bubble Run, a separate event, also will be going on. It’s a non-competitive fun-run through colorful foam. No time clocks or ribbons, just patches of bubbles that will turn your clothes and hair into a splashy rainbow.
This means you can recklessly splatter ketchup and nacho cheese on your clothes and nobody will notice.
This is the fifth year of the food truck smorgasbord, which has trucks serving everything from pitas and pizza to falafel and fusion.
“Food is a catalyst. It works well to draw a crowd and people hang out,” said Tyler Chism, co-founder of the website Live in Everett, sponsor of the food fest.
“Really, the goal is to bring people who aren’t familiar with how cool downtown Everett is to get them into downtown by using food as a universal thing that everyone loves. That’s how it started. It has grown every year.”
This year there will be more trucks, more music and more beer. In collaboration with Everett Music Initiative, local breweries will be on tap and the stage will feature The Porters, an Everett band, and regional acts Tilson XOXO, Spirited Award and Eastern Souvenirs.
The event is free or you can pay for perks. New this year are two VIP food truck options.
It’s $5 to get in an hour early (11 a.m. instead of noon) and beat the lines. Another option is $30, which gets you 10 small bites at most trucks, seating inside Village Theatre on the mezzanine or the balcony overlooking the festival and stage, indoor restrooms and free bottled water. Kids 12 and under can join an adult for free.
Just remember that food truck dining requires a certain etiquette.
There will be lines. Wait patiently and politely. The only grumbling should come from your stomach.
No letting your friends cut in line to join you. Be considerate of the people around. Don’t talk loudly on your phone.
Menus are usually highly visible. Read the menu while waiting, so you know what you want. Or look up the grub online. Most trucks have websites. Decide while you wait rather than hem and haw at the window.
Stick with the menu. Don’t make complicated requests. Don’t be that guy.
Bring cash. Some trucks don’t take credit cards.
Feed the tip jar. It might be on wheels, but it’s still an eatery and the people inside are working hard to feed you.
Pick up those napkins that you drop or blow away. Throw away your trash.
Enjoy the outdoors. Take a deep breath. Get a whiff of what’s cooking at another food truck. Repeat and enjoy the glorious gluttony.
If you go
The Everett Food Truck Festival is noon to 7 p.m. Aug. 26 at Wetmore Avenue and California Street. General admission is free, with early entry and VIP options, $5 and $30, respectively. More at www.liveineverett.com.
Trucks include: 314 Pie, Anchor End Pretzel Shoppe, Big Dog’s, Bread and Circuses, Cathouse Pizza, Charlie’s Buns N’ Stuff, Chopstix, Express Mexican Grill, Falafel Salam, Gip’s Down-Home BBQ, Hallava Falafel, Nosh, Itty Bitty Schnitty, Narrative Coffee, Carmina’s Sweeties Treaties, Curbside, Off the Rez, Stick It or Stuff It, Street Treats, Thai U Up, The Grilled Cheese Experience, The Vet Chef, Where Ya At Matt and Wicked Pies.
Tips for enjoying the Everett Food Truck Festival
1. Bring water and sunscreen.
2. There’s free parking at the Everpark parking garage, 2825 Hoyt Ave.
3. Seating is limited. Consider bringing a folding chair.
4. Dogs are welcome (friendly ones anyway).
5. Divide and conquer: Have your friends split up, each joining a different line, and then rendezvous to enjoy your grub family-style.
6. Take a break between meals and stroll the shops around downtown.
Source: Garret Hunt and Tyler Chism, Live in Everett
Talk to us
> Give us your news tips.
> Send us a letter to the editor.
> More Herald contact information.
Gallery
