Whitehall's annual Food Truck Festival returns this weekend with exciting headliner
WHITEHALL, Ohio (WCMH) -- Thousands of people are expected to fill Whitehall's John Bishop Park this Saturday for a free day of food and entertainment.
Whitehall's 12th annual Food Truck & Fun Fest returns this Saturday from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. with more than 25 food trucks, live music and a marketplace featuring local artists. The event attracts thousands of people each year, so the city prepares road closures and parking in advance. This year, seven-time Grammy nominee En Vogue is headlining the festival.
“This is truly an event you don’t want to miss, from the music to the food and marketplace, there is something for everyone,” Mayor Michael Bivens said. “En Vogue is sure to make this event one you won’t want to miss.”
The R&B vocal girl group is known for "Don't Let Go (Love)," "All My Lovin' (You're Never Gonna Get It)," "Whatta Man" and "Hold On." The group was well-known in the 1990s and early 2000s, and Billboard considers them among the top 10 successful female R&B groups of all time. En Vogue will take the main stage at 8:45 p.m., following five other musical acts and DJs. Music starts at 12:30 p.m.
The food trucks are largely local, including Schmidt's Sausage Truck, Off The Bone BBQ and Whitehall's own Flavor 91 Bistro. Attendees are encouraged to come hungry, and alcoholic drinks will also be available for purchase. This year, the city introduced the Southern Glazer's Lounge, a free 21-and-up bar with seating.
The city is prioritizing safety, and all attendees are required to wear wristbands at all times. Whitehall police and security will also be on-site throughout the event.
"While we won’t go into specifics for security reasons, the Whitehall Police Department has been actively planning for the Food Truck and Fun Festival for several months," a spokesperson said. "The department will be using all available resources, including advanced technology."
Local traffic has been a concern, and the city is limiting access to Etna Road, Doral Avenue, Link Road and Greenwood Road to prioritize resident access. Etna Road in front of John Bishop Park, where the festival is held, will be closed throughout the weekend starting Thursday at 7 a.m.
Attendees can park at Beechwood Elementary, New Life Church, Etna Road Elementary and Whitehall Yearling High School to take a free shuttle to the festival. The accessible shuttle will run every 15 minutes from 11 a.m. to 10:30 p.m.
"This event is always a highlight of the year, and we know this will be one of the best," Bivens said.