Paul Bass Photo
Ricky D’s popular rib shack, which will return to the festival, drew a crowd as it parked outside City Hall for Monday’s lunchtime announcement.
New Haven’s hoping to draw at least 40 mobile eateries and well over 20,000 visitors at the second annual food truck festival on Long Wharf — so it needs some help.
Organizers of the second annual fest, which was a smash hit last summer, put out the call Monday for community volunteers to help them handle the crowds for this year’s event, which takes place by the water on June 4 and 5.
“Mark your calendars,” said Mayor Toni Harp, whether you plan to volunteer or just pay the $5 admission fee and load up on ribs, pizza, tacos, and pork arepas. For more information about volunteering, visit this website.
Organizer Jackie James from the city’s economic development office said the event will also feature a kids’ area, a beer garden, and a performance by a “national R&B artist.” The Economic Development Corporation is organizing the festival along with the city. (These two stories give a flavor of what it was like last year at the festival.)
Coinciding with the waterfront festival will be a first-ever New Haven “dragon boat” regatta, with teams of 20 rowers steering canoes in a competition in the the harbor. This previous article has more details about the race; also click on or download the above sound file for an interview with organizer John Pescatore on Aliyya Swaby’s “In Transit” program on WNHH radio.
Victoria Blumm of Zuppardi’s Apizza, another festival participant, served a slice to Howard Boyd Monday.