Keep on Truckin’
- Visit North Central
From familiar burger shops to family-run diners and national chain restaurants, there’s certainly no shortage of great places sit down for a meal in Johnny Appleseed Country.
But sometimes you want to eat on the run. Sometimes you want to bask in the sun on a park bench during your lunch break. And sometimes you want to sample a wide variety of foods in a party atmosphere.
You’ll find the answer to all those wishes when the food trucks come wheeling in to downtown streets and picturesque orchards throughout the region.
Think burgers, hot dogs, grinders — and so much more! Pulled pork. Wood-oven baked pizza. Organic cotton candy. And oh-so-yummy Italian cannoli.
The food truck trend has blossomed in recent years. They’ve become regular features on Main Street and Boulder Drive in downtown Fitchburg, where office workers can grab a quick lunch, and beer connoisseurs can enjoy a bite while trying out new creations at the River Styx brewery.
Among the vendors hitting the city’s streets these days is Zapata Mexican Cocina, which has a traditional shop on nearby Lunenburg Street — with the idea of bringing its popular south-of-the-border eats to hungry downtown workers.
Food trucks are popping up, too, at special events like the Apple Blossom Festival at Sholan Farms in May, Fitchburg’s Civic Days block party in early July, and at the Appleseed Country Fair at the Red Apple Farm in Phillipston on Labor Day weekend.
And they’re lining the streets at special Food Truck Festivals in Gardner in June, at Wachusett Mountain Ski Area in August and Leominster in September.
These popular on-the-go eateries are attracting flocks of food-lovers eager to spend a day chowing down on a smorgasbord of ethnic foods, familiar fare and, of course, lots of super sweets for a finishing touch.
Want to give your taste buds a treat? Here’s a sampling of when and where to find these rolling eateries:
May 19, Apple Blossom Festival, 10 am – 4 pm, at Sholan Farms, 1127 Pleasant St., Leominster.
June 9, Gardner Food Truck Festival, 4 – 8:30 pm, in front of City Hall, Pleasant St., Gardner.
July 3, Civic Days Block Party, 5-10 pm, on Main Street, Fitchburg
August 14, Wachusett Summer Food Truck Festival at Wachusett Mountain Ski Area, Mountain Road, Princeton
September 2-4, Appleseed Country Fair, Red Apple Farm, Leominster
September 14, Food Truck Festival,5 – 9 pm in downtown Leominster
