Food enthusiasts from all over Arkansas flooded the streets of downtown Little Rock on Sunday, Sept. 17 for the 12th annual Main Street Food Truck Festival. 

The festival stretched down Main Street, to Third and Ninth Street from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. and was hosted by the Downtown Little Rock Partnership.

The festival included over 60 food trucks, artists, clothing, home decor, pet and metaphysical vendors. 

Alongside food and shopping, there was plenty of family fun, including a parking lot filled with bounce houses, arts and crafts and activities for children.

At the festival, there was something for every foodie. The food trucks ranged from handcrafted lemonades, barbecue, Asian hibachi, seafood, tacos, classic American cuisine and desserts.

Some popular lemonade stands included: The Breezy Scoop and Kyleigh’s Lemonade. 

A variety of grilled meats were available from Home Blues BBQ, Kool’s BBQ and Kaygood BBQ and Concession.

Smashed N’ Stacked had burger slider meals, including their signature spicy and original sauces and chips.

Down Hibachilli and Island Noodles offered Asian-inspired cuisine options.

Millie’s Fish n Shrimp and Fresh Gulf Shrimp had several fried crustacean options, such as crawfish egg rolls and catfish plates.

Tacos Godoy and Elotes Peter had various street tacos, elote corn and Tajín fruit.

Local ice cream shops such as Le Pops and Loblolly Creamery were also in attendance with sweet frozen treats.

Some fan favorites were Island Noodles, Down Home Blues BBQ, Elotes Peter, and Loblolly.

Rebecca Hernandez said, “I enjoyed the Down Home Blues BBQ rib plate. It was very flavorful and smoky. I also got a drink from Elotes Peter, called Rusa. They give you the drink in a cup that’s made of clay. It’s very popular in the Latino community.”

Monica Simpson said, “I really enjoyed Island Noodles, the fruit with the Tajín, and there is a food truck from Memphis that has the best pink lemonade and Krimsyn cookies.” 

Chepeka McKinney said Loblolly Creamery’s food truck was one of her favorites, as she tried their The Mighty Peach ice cream flavor.

Hernandez said she tries to attend the festival every year with her family and that it has become a tradition for them. She described the event as fun, mouthwatering and engaging.

Simpson said she enjoyed the atmosphere and the food.

McKinney said, “My favorite part of the festival is being able to try so many different food trucks that I wouldn’t normally be able to try.”

Outside of the extensive food truck varieties, patrons had shopping opportunities.

Some vendors included: Love Spell Tattoo, Melba Peach Candle Company, Young Fresh Clothing, Southern Henna, Desired Elements, The Bling Junkie and Natural Joy by Nicole Janae.

Desired Elements specializes in custom-wrapped crystal jewelry, herbal blends and wellness products.

Desirée Cooley, owner of Desired Elements said she decided to be a vendor at the Main Street Food Truck Festival because it is one of the biggest festivals in the city. 

“It would be a great opportunity to not only sell my products but also a huge benefit to tell people about my new store 3 Hidden Gems,” Cooley said. She said her favorite part was the exchange with new customers and people from all walks of life. 

According to the Main Street Food Truck Festival’s website, the festival was created to bring people back to Main Street and support the Downtown Little Rock Partnership. The festival now brings in thousands of attendees each year.