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| Chicago Food Truck Festival | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Status | Active |
| Genre | Food festival |
| Locations | South Loop, Chicago, Illinois |
| Coordinates | 41°51′01″N 87°37′23″W / 41.8504°N 87.6231°W |
| Founded | 2014 |
| Founder | Alex Blackshire |
| Attendance | 40–55 food trucks per event |
| Website | chicagofoodtruckfestival |
The Chicago Food Truck Festival is an annual food truck rally held in Chicago South Loop neighborhood that features food trucks, foodies and live entertainment.[1]
History
editThe festival started in 2014 when Alex Blackshire[2] [3] organized the first festival at U.S. Cellular Field now Guaranteed Rate Field in the Armour Square, Chicago.[4] The opening day drew a big crowd, but it was quickly met with logistical challenges. People waited hours in line, and many trucks ran out of food, leading local media to call it a "fiasco."[5]
The following year, the organizers tried again. They moved the event to the South Loop, made general admission free, and fixed some of the earlier problems.[6] The festival has stayed in the South Loop ever since. [7] By 2025 it was in its 12th year.[8]
Industry Context
editChicago has some of the strictest food truck laws in the country. A 2012 ordinance bans trucks from parking within 200 feet of any brick-and-mortar restaurant and requires them to carry GPS trackers that report their location to the city.[9] These rules were challenged in court but were upheld by the Supreme Court of Illinois in 2019 in the case LMP Services, Inc. v. City of Chicago. Because of the restrictions, the festival has become one of the few places where Food trucks can operate on a large scale.
In 2015, US Senator Mark Kirk visited the festival. He met with vendors and used the event to push for federal reforms, including his Small Business Regulatory Sunset Act, saying Chicago's rules were a clear example of government overreach.[10]
Growth and Events
editOver the years, the festival has grown steadily.[11] Recent editions usually feature more than 40 trucks.[12][13] Organizers have also run the festival in Gallagher Way at Wrigley Field in 2018, for the Budweiser Taste of Summer Chicago Food Truck Festival.[14] Local news outlets have reported large crowds at the main South Loop weekend.[13]
References
edit- ↑ Medina, Andrea (July 21, 2024). "Chicago Food Truck Festival delights taste buds once again". WGN-TV.
- ↑ Plier, Dave (June 1, 2014). "The First Ever Chicago Food Truck Festival". WGN Radio.
- ↑ Blackshire, Alex (July 19, 2024). "11th annual Chicago Food Truck Festival". WGN Radio.
- ↑ Arnett, Lisa (March 26, 2014). "Chicago Food Truck Fest to debut at U.S. Cellular Field". Chicago RedEye.
- ↑ "Chicago Food Truck Fest Was 'a Fiasco,' Patrons Say". DNAinfo Chicago. June 10, 2014.
- ↑ "After Last Year's 'Fiasco,' Chicago Food Truck Fest is Bigger and Free". DNAinfo Chicago. June 22, 2015.
- ↑ "Chicago Food Truck Festival brings the flavor to South Loop with a sampling of the city's best bites". ABC7 Chicago. July 22, 2023.
- ↑ "12th annual Chicago Food Truck Festival returning to South Loop this weekend". WGN-TV. June 24, 2025.
- ↑ "Chicago food trucks OK to cook onboard, City Council says". ABC7. July 26, 2012. Retrieved 2026-05-01.
- ↑ Selvam, Ashok (June 29, 2015). "Sen. Mark Kirk Making a Federal Issue out of Chicago's Food Truck Restrictions". Eater Chicago.
- ↑ Simons, Sasha-Ann (July 28, 2023). "Food Friday: Chicago Food Truck Festival's 10th Anniversary". WBEZ.
- ↑ Eden, Savannah (June 22, 2018). "Get ready, Chicago foodies: Chicago Food Truck Festival will host new, unique flavors on wheels". Chicago Tribune.
- 1 2 Davis, Ethan (July 30, 2024). "Massive Turnout at Season 11 of Chicago Food Truck Festival". Chicago Defender.
- ↑ "Budweiser's Taste of Summer: Chicago Food Truck Festival". Hand Family Companies. July 28, 2018.