15th Annual Columbus Food Truck Festival Returns to Franklin County Fairgrounds
The Columbus Food Truck Festival returns for its 15th anniversary on August 14 and 15, bringing nearly 50 mobile food vendors and an expected crowd of more than 25,000 visitors to the Franklin County Fairgrounds in Hilliard, according to local reporting by the Columbus Dispatch and Hoodline.
Founded in 2011, the event has grown significantly since its early days at the Columbus Commons, where it debuted with roughly 20 trucks and no operating budget. After moving to the Scioto Mile in 2017 and taking a pause in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the festival established its current home at the Franklin County Fairgrounds in 2021. Festival founder and owner Chas Kaplan leads the two-day gathering, which organizers report generates more than $1 million in revenue for participating small businesses.
Diverse Cuisines and Pricing
This year’s lineup spans a wide range of culinary styles, featuring eight American barbecue vendors alongside Asian stir-fries, Latin street food, seafood, and desserts. Participating trucks include Big Pappy’s BBQ, Dragon BBQ Pit, Cousin’s Maine Lobster, Lumpia Queen, and newcomer Grateful Griddle, owned by Lance Robinson, according to Dispatch coverage.
To encourage sampling, each participating food truck offers at least one designated $6 featured item. In addition to the trucks, attendees can access a festival lounge serving beer, liquor, and wine, with Seventh Son Brewing also operating a station on-site.
Music Lineup and Special Guests
Musical entertainment anchors the weekend schedule, headlined on Saturday night by turntablist DJ Logic alongside pedal-steel guitarist Robert Randolph and Friends. Additional musical acts performing across Friday and Saturday include A Band Called Dreamland, DJ Matty Sexton, Drew Diligence, Friends of the Dead, George Barrie, Johnny Moderation, School of Rock, and Stage Five Clinger.
Reality television fans can catch Jordan Faeth, a Columbus-based cast member from Netflix’s “Love Is Blind,” who is scheduled to make a special guest appearance on August 14 from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m.
Tickets, Parking, and Family Activities
The festival runs Friday from 4 p.m. through Saturday at 10 p.m. Online tickets are available for $10 through columbusfoodtruckfest.com, but the price increases to $15 at 4 p.m. on August 15. Admission is free for children 12 and younger, though entry fees do not cover food and beverages. A separate air-conditioned VIP lounge is available for $60, offering small bites from select trucks, ice cream, two drink tickets, and private restrooms.
Parking at the fairgrounds is free on a first-come, first-served basis. Beyond the food, the event features a marketplace with more than a dozen vendors selling jewelry, clothing, and crafts, alongside a dedicated kids’ zone featuring a 50-foot inflatable slide and a 30-vendor kids’ market highlighting young entrepreneurs aged 12 and under.
Since its inception, organizers have directed more than $115,000 in proceeds to Central Ohio non-profit organizations and charities, including Music Loves Ohio and Besa, according to Destination Hilliard records.