Food Truck Fest coming to Elgin next week
Grand Victoria Casino and WTMX radio station are partnering to bring the first food truck festival to Festival Park in Elgin.
Food Trust Fest from 6 to 10 p.m. Aug. 5 will feature 20 food trucks with items including pierogies, lobster sandwiches, hot dogs, Chinese bao buns, pizza, tacos, baby back ribs, doughnuts and much more, plus the chance to meet Eric Ferguson and Kathy Hart, veteran hosts of the morning show on 101.9-FM, The Mix.
There will be live music from new artist Leon, a Swedish singer/songwriter, and local band Red Woody, along with wine and regional craft beer.
The radio station had been tossing around the food truck idea for a while, and jumped at the chance to make it happen when casino officials said they were looking for unique event ideas, said Dave Karwowski, director of marketing for The Mix.
"It was a case of being at the right place at the right time," he said. "Plus, it doesn't hurt that we have a strong fan base in the Western suburbs, especially in the Elgin, South Elgin area."
Marilou Pilman, the casino's advertising and public relations manager, said the casino always wants to showcase downtown Elgin.
"With the rise in popularity of food trucks and the success of food truck events, we felt that a festival featuring several of the most popular food trucks in Chicagoland would bring people to Elgin, much like our summer concerts."
Food trucks at the event will include The Fat Pickle, Da Lobsta, The Cookout on Wheels, Pierogi Wagon, Lucy's, Little Donkey Taqueria, Piko Street Kitchen, Beaver's Donuts, Happy Lobster, Kate and Jan's Hot Dogs and Harold's Chicken.
"The Eric & Kathy Show," which has been on the air for two decades, ranked first among listeners 25 to 54 for the last 10 years, Karwowski said.
So what does the radio station get out of the Elgin festival? "The ability to surprise and delight both our listeners and patrons of the casino in an entertaining setting," Karwowski said.
Grand Victoria also is organizing a Hot Grills Car Show Aug. 27, and Rocktoberfest Oct. 1. The next summer concert features Daughtry, with Hinder and Dishwalla Sept. 3.