Food Truck Fridays Return to the Waterfront With 18 Vendors

Food Truck Fridays are back at Waterfront Park, with 18 vendors, live music and lawn games every Friday from 5 to 9 p.m. The weekly gathering, now in its sixth season, opened last Friday to a crowd that filled the lawn well before sunset, with lines stretching from the taco truck to the edge of the bike path. Organizers say this year’s lineup is the largest yet, with several new vendors, a bigger stage and more seating along the water. The event runs every Friday through the end of October, weather permitting, and admission remains free.

New this year

A dumpling truck, a vegan bakery and a family-run fish and chips stand. The three newcomers join 15 returning vendors, chosen from more than 40 applicants, according to organizers.

The dumpling truck, Fold & Steam, is run by a husband-and-wife team who spent a decade cooking in restaurants before buying a used truck last winter. Their pork and chive dumplings sold out by 7:30 on opening night. The vegan bakery, Sweet Root, started as a home baking business and sells cookies, hand pies and cinnamon buns. The fish and chips stand, Captain’s Basket, is run by three generations of the Doucette family, who fry locally caught perch alongside haddock.

The full lineup

Returning favorites include tacos, wood-fired pizza, Korean barbecue, falafel, smash burgers, barbecue, Thai noodles, empanadas, lobster rolls, crepes, poke bowls, Indian street food, two ice cream trucks and a coffee and creemee stand. Organizers rotate a few spots each month, so the lineup may change slightly from week to week.

A summer tradition by the lake

Food Truck Fridays began six years ago with just five trucks in a corner of the parking lot. Organizers said they hoped to give local food businesses a steady weekly market and give residents a reason to spend Friday evenings by the water. Attendance grew quickly, and the event moved to the main lawn in its second season.

Today it is one of the most popular free events in the city. Organizers estimate that between 2,000 and 3,000 people come through on a typical warm Friday, though they caution that the number is based on informal counts rather than ticketing. Families spread blankets on the grass, friends gather at picnic tables and many people simply walk the path with a plate in hand, watching the sun drop behind the mountains across the lake.

Fridays by the lake with a plate of food — that’s summer here.

Tom Becker, event organizer

Becker, who has organized the event since its first season through the nonprofit Waterfront Neighbors Alliance, said the goal has always been simple. “We wanted something that felt like a neighborhood block party, but by the lake,” he said. “Anyone can come. You don’t have to buy anything. You can bring your own dinner and just enjoy the music.”

Music and activities

Live music runs from 6 to 8:30 p.m. on a small stage near the boathouse, featuring local bands and solo performers. Organizers say this year’s schedule leans toward folk, bluegrass, jazz and soul, with a family-friendly kids’ music set on the first Friday of each month.

Beyond the food and music, the lawn fills with activities:

• Giant lawn games, including cornhole, ring toss and oversized checkers
• A chalk art area for children near the playground
• A rotating table for local nonprofits, from the food shelf to the animal shelter
• A free water refill station, so visitors can skip plastic bottles
• Recycling and compost stations staffed by volunteers

What vendors say

For many of the vendors, Friday nights at the waterfront are among the busiest of the week. Several said the event accounts for a significant share of their summer income and helps introduce their food to people who later seek them out at other markets, festivals and private events.

Ana Ruiz, who runs the empanada truck with her sister, said the steady crowd made it possible for them to expand from a pop-up tent to a full truck two years ago. “We met so many of our regular customers here,” she said. “People come back every week and tell us what they want us to make next.”

Vendors pay a modest weekly fee to participate, which covers the cost of portable toilets, trash and recycling service, the stage and security. Organizers said the fee has not increased this year despite rising costs, thanks in part to a grant from the city’s parks department and support from local sponsors.

Waits and tips from regulars

Lines can be long, especially for the most popular trucks between 6 and 7:30 p.m. Regulars offered a few suggestions for a smoother evening: arrive early or late to avoid the dinner rush, split up so each person in a group waits in a different line and bring a blanket in case picnic tables fill up. Most vendors accept cards, though a few cash-only trucks remain, and there is no ATM on site.

Getting there

Bike valet is free; parking fills by 6. Organizers strongly encourage visitors to walk, bike or take the bus. The free bike valet, run by volunteers near the main entrance to the park, can hold several hundred bikes and stays open until 9:30 p.m.

The waterfront is a short walk from downtown and is served by several bus routes, with the last buses leaving the nearby stop around 10 p.m. The lakeside path also connects the park to neighborhoods to the north and south, making it easy to arrive by bike or on foot.

Drivers should expect limited spaces. The waterfront lots and nearby street parking fill early, and the city reminds visitors not to park in the ferry lanes or the boat launch area, which are enforced on event nights. Accessible parking spaces are available in the lot closest to the lawn, and the path from there to the vendors is paved and level.

Key takeaway: Fridays, 5 to 9 p.m., through October. Free admission, 18 vendors, live music from 6 to 8:30 and free bike valet. Come early if you plan to drive.

Rain, pets and other questions

Organizers say the event goes on in light rain, but they will cancel for thunderstorms or high winds. Updates are posted on the event’s social media pages by 3 p.m. each Friday. Leashed dogs are welcome on the lawn, though organizers ask owners to keep them away from the vendor lines and to clean up after them. Alcohol is not permitted in the park.

Visitors are encouraged to bring their own reusable plates, cups and utensils, and several vendors offer a small discount to anyone who does. Organizers say the event sent far less trash to the landfill last year thanks to the compost and recycling stations, and they hope to cut that amount further this season.

Volunteers are always needed to help with bike valet, recycling stations and setup. Anyone interested can sign up through the Waterfront Neighbors Alliance, and volunteers receive a free meal voucher for each shift.

As opening night wound down, the lawn was still full of people lingering over the last of their food as the band played its final song. The sky over the lake turned orange, then pink, and a few children chased each other around the cornhole boards. For many in the crowd, it was the first real sign that the season had arrived, with a full summer of Fridays still ahead.