Bites, beats and local treats: Inaugural ABQ Food Truck Fest celebrates local offerings

When the inaugural Albuquerque Food Truck Fest comes into town this weekend, come hungry. More than 30 food trucks will be waiting and ready to serve up local offerings.

The Albuquerque Food Truck Festival is a celebration of all things local and all things delicious, according to operator Alex Chavez, who runs the ABQ Food Park.

“We wanted to be the first locally owned and operated food truck fest,” Chavez said. “This is going to be one of Albuquerque’s biggest food truck festivals, and we are Albuquerque’s first food truck park. This is our first annual event, and we plan on making this a reoccurring thing.”

Food trucks of all types will part of the lineup, including popular food trucks like Sanchez Tacos, seafood truck Krab Kingz, Japanese street food vendor Mobiyaki, Indian cuisine from Vada Chennai and more.

Food trucks come from all over — Albuquerque, Las Cruces, Rio Rancho, and even from as far as El Paso. Chavez said wanted to highlight New Mexican food vendors.

“We tried to reach out to unique food trucks, things you don’t typically see,” Chavez said. “We’re trying to shoot for variety and keep the concept as unique as possible. A lot of food trucks are tacos, nachos and burritos, and it’s a little too much at this point.”

Food may be the main focus at the festival, but eating is not the only thing attendees can do. Chavez said he wanted to make sure people of all ages would be entertained.

In between a carton of fries from Fry Factory and a sweet sip of lemonade from Sipps, take a look at offerings from arts and crafts vendors, or even small treats, like muffins from Rio Rancho vendor Madonna’s Muffins or beef jerky from JC Jerky. Kids will also have the chance to enjoy large bounce houses and lawn games.

“There’s so many talented people in New Mexico ... but a lot of artists don’t have management or anyone advocating for them,” Chavez said. “A lot of artists don’t have anyone trying to allow them to set up a place to sell without charging astronomical fees. We’re trying to make sure this is just a nice spot for people to gather around with family and kids and know it’s a safe space.”

During the festival, which runs from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Saturday, March 1, and Sunday, March 2, there will be live musical performances.

“We’ll have The Sellout Surf Club, and they’re going to be playing at the Food Truck Park during the fest,” Chavez said. “They’re a super cool band of (University of New Mexico) students that have come together to play their own rendition of popular songs with like a surf twist. They’re really the highlight, so they’re going to be playing all day and night, and there’s going to be definitely more bands to be announced.”

Chavez said the event highlights all the joys of New Mexico and supports local talent in all its glory.

“Albuquerque is one of the last cities in the country I feel that really has a tight grasp on the culture that’s happening locally,” he said. “We don’t want big box entities to come in here and take over because it would be so easy for them to do so. Support local and buy local always.”

Bites, beats and local treats: Inaugural ABQ Food Truck Fest celebrates local offerings