About
A message to our fellow Food Truck Fest Enthusiasts, We are extremely excited to be back in 2021! For a full list of Frequently Asked Questions please click here
07.26.2021
EVENT LINEUPS
Event lineups are now set for our food trucks, crafters, artists, retailers, and live music. Please use the links below to view the 2021 lineups!
06.21.2021
HOTELS
We have arranged discounted rates just for you, please click the hotel brand name below to book your rooms now.
AVID Hotel 3900 Lyman Dr, Hilliard, OH 43026 (Less than 1/2 a mile from the festival)
06.15.2021
WE ARE BACK OHIO!!!!!!!
The Midwest’s Premier Food Truck Festival Celebrates Ten Year
Anniversary and Makes Much Anticipated Return August 21–22, 2021
Organizers implementing ticketing for crowd management and announcing new location for the 2021 event. Tickets are now available at ColumbusFoodTruckFest.com.
The pair behind the Midwest’s premier food truck event, Chas Kaplan and Mike Gallicchio, are thrilled to announce the return of the Columbus Food Truck Festival. The event, celebrating ten years in 2021, is set to take place on Saturday, August 21 and Sunday, August 22 at the Franklin County Fairgrounds located in Hilliard, Ohio.
Originally set to take place along the Scioto Mile in Downtown Columbus, the event is relocating this year to the Franklin County Fairgrounds primarily due to permit timing. “Planning for such a large-scale event like the Columbus Food Truck Festival is a year-round endeavor and the city was holding on event permitting until June due to COVID-19…and we totally understand that,” said Co-organizer Mike Gallicchio. He continued, “because we work with over 100 small businesses and entrepreneurs, we owe it to them to give them as much time as possible to make business decisions.”
In addition to a move to the Franklin County Fairgrounds, enhanced safety protocols such as ticketing will be implemented this year to allow for capacity monitoring. “Ticketing the event allows us to control the flow of guests into the festival to prevent it from overcrowding,” said Co-organizer Chas Kaplan. “It also allows us to plan better for seating areas and other accommodations like hand-washing stations and restroom facilities.”
The festival showcases delicious and unique fare from 50+ gourmet food trucks from Ohio and across the Midwest. All of these businesses are eager and excited to finally be able to get back to “business.” “The mobile food industry relies heavily on events like the Columbus Food Truck Festival to make their bottom lines. The shut-downs impacted this industry tremendously,” said Kaplan. “We are glad to be able to help in a small way by holding the festival this year, and hope central Ohio foodies come out and support these small businesses.”
Complimenting the wonderful food, the festival boasts over two dozen artisans and crafters and offers live music throughout the weekend on two stages with performances by hometown favorites like Angela Perley and The Howlin’ Moons, Willie Phoenix, The Winnie Cooper Project, and Anna & The Consequences. Many more acts to be announced in the coming weeks.
The festival would be amiss if it didn’t have a special activity area for the youngest foodies in attendance. The Hilliard Historical Village located on the fairgrounds will be a respite for the kiddos with activities and a play area to burn off some energy.
New additions to the festival this year include additional seating throughout the grounds, a covered seating area, a covered acoustic pavilion, increased handwashing stations, and complimentary onsite parking* with a ticket. *Parking is limited and on a first come, first served basis for ticket holders. On-street parking is also conveniently located around the Franklin County Fairgrounds.
Tickets are $5 for adults and can be purchased at ColumbusFoodTruckFest.com. Children 12 years of age and younger receive complimentary admission, but must be accompanied by an adult 18 years of age or older. Guests are strongly encouraged to get their tickets before heading to the event as this event is anticipated to sell out.
A portion of the proceeds from the festival benefit the Ronald McDonald House Charities of Central Ohio and Music Loves Ohio. Both non-profits have an established history of serving children and families in and around Central Ohio.
The festival will be following all local health orders. As of June 15, 2021*, it is recommended by local public health officials and the CDC that all unvaccinated guests including children 2 years of age and older are strongly encouraged to wear a mask when in indoor spaces. In addition, all festival attendees should follow health and safety best practices including frequent hand washing, and social distancing. *Subject to change as required by local health departments.
HOURS AND GENERAL INFORMATION SUMMARY
The Columbus Food Truck Festival runs Saturday, August 21 from 11 a.m.—11 p.m. and Sunday, August 22 from 12 p.m. —7 p.m. and is located at the Franklin County Fairgrounds 4100 Columbia St, Hilliard, OH 43026.
Tickets are $5 for adults. Children 12 years of age and younger are complementary, but must be accompanied by an adult 18 years of age or older. The event is rain or shine.
For directions, the complete list of participating mobile food vendors, as well as the schedule of activities, and musicians, please visit ColumbusFoodTruckFest.com or the festival’s Facebook at @colsfoodtruckfest.
Vendors/Entertainers/Sponsors
Those interested in becoming a vendor, artist, entertainer, or sponsor for the event should contact Mike Gallicchio or Chas Kaplan at by clicking the link on our site that says SPONSORS.
ABOUT THE COLUMBUS FOOD TRUCK FESTIVAL
The two-day event, named Best Foodie Event in the state by Ohio Magazine in 2017, features the best mobile food vendors from throughout the region as well as arts and crafts vendors, and dozens of bands on two stages.
While the festival’s mission is to support food tourism in the Central Ohio area and support small business, another very essential component to the festival is to help build awareness and support local non-profit organizations that serve the Central Ohio community. This year, the festival’s charitable partners include Music Loves Ohio and the Ronald McDonald House Charities of Central Ohio. “Both of these non-profit organizations give so much to the community and we want to support their efforts,” said Kaplan.
Find them online at ColumbusFoodTruckFest.com and on Facebook at @colsfoodtruckfest.
ABOUT THE FRANKLIN COUNTY FAIRGROUNDS AND THE FRANKLIN COUNTY AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY
The Franklin County Fairgrounds is operated by the Franklin County Agricultural Society. The objectives of the Society are the improvement of agriculture, horticulture, better livestock, uniform domestic science and art, and the promotion of youth activities, and the general community betterment together with all other industrial, commercial, and educational interests of the County.
The Franklin County Fairgrounds is located at 4100 Columbus Street, Hilliard, OH 43026. For more information about the Franklin County Agricultural Society and the Franklin County Fairgrounds visit them online at fcfair.org.
ABOUT MUSIC LOVES OHIO
Music Loves Ohio is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization that provides opportunities for Central Ohio youth to pursue their passion for music. Their financial assistance is focused on music education classrooms (public schools, private schools, and after school programs) and providing instruments to financially underserved students in Central Ohio.
For more information about Music Loves Ohio, visit them online at musiclovesohio.org.
ABOUT RONALD MCDONALD HOUSE CHARITIES OF CENTRAL OHIO
For more than three decades, Ronald McDonald House Charities of Central Ohio (RMHC) has been keeping families close at the Columbus Ronald McDonald House. From its beginnings as a grassroots movement established by a partnership between volunteers and local McDonald’s Owner/Operators, the charity has served thousands of families in their deepest times of need.
For more information about Ronald McDonald House Charities of Central Ohio, visit them online at rmhc-centralohio.org.
ABOUT DESTINATION HILLIARD/HILLIARD OHIO
Hilliard, Ohio is a thriving community of more than 33,000 residents. Residents and corporate citizens enjoy dependable city and safety services, a highly rated public-school system, scenic parks and trails, terrific recreational programs and a variety of safe and attractive neighborhoods. Situated just west of the Scioto River along I-270, Hilliard is only a 15 to 20-minute commute to downtown Columbus. With roots that began as a village built in 1869 around the railroad station, Hilliard has grown into a city full of local pride and history.
For more information about Hilliard, Ohio, activities, accommodations, and attractions, please visit them online at destinationhilliard.com.
05.13.2021
Plans are changing and we have exciting news to announce mid June 2021! Save the dates for this years Columbus Food Truck Festival will now be Saturday August 21st and Sunday August 22nd! We can’t wait to share the rest of the news with you soon!
01.29.2021
As we learned last year nothing is for certain and neither is 2021, BUT we are planning “as if” it’s going to happen August 21-22, 2021 with the same passion and organization as years past. It’s important for us to get the word out now for sake of vendors, staff and volunteer scheduling as planning of an operation this large of a scale takes over 7 months of planning each year. The most important reason for wanting to host this festival in 2021 (our 10th Anniversary the Redux) is for the small business owners the vendors, with over 70 food trucks and 30 crafters and 20 Bands from all over the state and country. Each come to our festival and our city with hopes to share their TLC through their product. The pocket books of these small business owners have been hit harder than any other industry as the entertainment industry has been almost completely shut down since March 2020. We want to host a successful event for all of them and, of course, for the people of Ohio and Columbus. We know the struggles every single person has gone through and WE WANT TO DO THIS FOR YOU! You need sunshine, fun, food, family, music and and an all around good time to lift spirits! I personally want to experience that as well! When the Columbus Food Truck Festival returns we will do just that for you!
We plan to celebrate our 10th Anniversary Redux with the same gusto and passion that we have shown you for the last 11 years and we are positive the Food Trucks, Crafters and Bands will do exactly the same!
Guests should expect the festival to be as safe as safe can be especially if we are still living within a pandemic by August 2021. The Columbus Food Truck Festival and all vendors will be following all CDC, Ohio Public Health and Columbus Public Health Guidelines put forth to us (as an outdoor festival) to follow. The Columbus Food Truck Festivals takes over 7 months of planning to achieve the beautiful, fun and safe event environment that it has always been and which we pride ourselves on. That is the reason we are launching the Save The Date now in order to get the ball rolling and to learn about every single step and precaution that needs to be taken in order to have the most safe and comfortable festival that our attendees deserve! Please keep an eye on on this website and all our social media outlets over the coming months and prior to the festival with what to expect in regards to everything and of course how we intend on hosting a safe environment for all.
06.15.2020
We’ve anguished the last few months over our decision regarding The Columbus Food Truck Fest this summer. We wanted to make the best decision for the people of Central Ohio and all the small business owners that participate. So it is with a heavy heart that we announce that there will be no Columbus Food truck Festival this August due to Covid-19. We could not guarantee the Festival would be up to the standards that we take pride in delivering. We did not want patrons or purveyors to have to make difficult decisions about their health or the health of their family.
We take great pride that all of you have responded so well to the 9 prior years of The Columbus Food Truck Festival. We do not take lightly the trust you put in us as we try to deliver the best food truck festival experience. We will miss your smiling faces. We will miss friends and families getting together and eating some of the best mobile food Ohio and the Midwest have to offer.
We remind you all during these difficult times to please support your Local Food Trucks and Local Craft vendors. We are all in this together and we will all get through this together.
We look forward to producing The Columbus Food Truck Festival in 2021 so please look for our 2021 date announcements coming this fall and we look forward to seeing all your smiling faces once again.
Sincerely and with Love,
The entire Columbus Food Truck Festival Family
A Message Regarding Columbus Food Truck Festival.
03.19.2020
We wanted to provide an update to our community and partners regarding our plans in light of coronavirus/COVID-19.
Our first priority has always been and will continue to be the safety and well-being of our Festival-goers, Vendors, Artists, and Partners.
Based on the latest information and the considerable amount of time to assess and respond to developments between now and August, we are planning to proceed with Columbus Food Truck Festival as planned.
We are continually monitoring this current situation and are closely following developments and updated information from Governor DeWineʼs Office, the Ohio Department of Health, the World Health Organization (WHO), and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
As the current situation further develops we will make adjustments accordingly. To put your mind at ease, in the event that the event is cancelled we will refund ticket buyers, vendors, and artisans. Please follow our Facebook page for the latest updates.
Thank you for your support and we are all hoping to get back to normal as soon as possible and have a fun and fabulous summer events season.
The 9th Annual Columbus Food Truck Festival on the Scioto Mile & Bicentennial Park
Friday August 16th Saturday August 17th 11 am – 11 pm
COLUMBUS, OHIO– The much anticipated summer foodie event, the Columbus Food Truck Festival, is back for year 9 and is serving up delicious fun for all ages on the Scioto Mile. According to festival organizers Mike Gallicchio and Chas Kaplan,
As in the previous year, the festival will literally take-over the river banks encompassing Bicentennial Park, the Rich Street Bridge, Washington Boulevard and Park as well as Genoa Park that sits directly behind COSI. In addition, the festival will once again be partnering with the Nationwide Children’s Hospital Great Duck Race charitable event.
We are also thrilled to have another charitable partnership with Music Loves Ohio: Music Loves Ohio is a wonderful local nonprofit that helps young, aspiring Columbus musicians in all sorts of amazing ways. They’ve given out free instruments, they’ve paid for summer music camps and they’ve sent talented young high school students to Berkeley for training. They are awesome people with the goal of making music attainable and affordable for all Columbus kids.
The two-day event, named Best Foodie Event in the state by Ohio Magazine 2017, will feature over 60 of the best food mobile food vendors from throughout the region, arts and crafts vendors, family activities and dozens of bands on two stages. There will also be a children’s midway on Saturday in conjunction with the Great Duck Race.
Hours and Cost:
– Free to attend – all ages
– Kids fun day is 11am-6pm Saturday
– Hours of Operation 11am – 11pm August 16-17, 2019
Want to volunteer – Visit https://columbusfoodtruckfest.com/
This past festival we partnered with Nationwide Children’s Hospital and Columbus Duck Race – Nationwide Children’s Hospital to help raise money while working with an exceptional and caring group of volunteers!
Today we donated $2,222.50 for volunteers worked and added that to 8400 total ducks sold at $5 each bringing the amount raised by our partnership to roughly $55,000!!!!! This partnership will continue for years to come and hopefully we will be able to raise more every festival!
We could not be more proud of everyone that volunteered, worked, served food, played music or just hung out at this years event, you should also be very proud! We couldn’t do this without you, THANK YOU!