The Gulf to Bay Food Truck Association continues to enliven the Burg’s downtown area with funky and creative events. The public was delighted by GBFTA’s inaugural French Fry Festival in March. The masses are eagerly awaiting April 21 — the date of the Seafood and Sweets Festival at Port St. Pete.

The activation of Williams Park continues 

The Association’s creative efforts have them expanding beyond the Burg’s scenic waterfront area to Williams Park in the heart of downtown. Keep St. Pete Local’s Localtopia event serves as a testament to the potential Williams Park holds as a flourishing events venue. Recently, a large battle of the bands events saw visitors and residents of all ages flocking to the downtown park.

Every third Wednesday beginning on May 17, a to-be-determined list of food trucks will gather around the park from 11am-2pm to serve samplings of the Burg’s best bites. The event should be reminiscent of Tampa Mayor Bob Buckhorn’s monthly food truck fiesta in Lykes Gaslight Park.

Monthly event complements new biz openings in the area

The area surrounding Williams Park has seen significant growth over the past few months. Deja Vu Café, The Galley and Diner24 have come together to bring a bevy of food and drink options for downtown workers and weekend visitors. The addition of this monthly event is sure to further underscore the value of Williams Park. The Tampa Bay Business Journal reports that the area could soon receive its own business district, too.

This isn’t the only new event they have brewing. Continuing the trend of night markets around the Burg, the GBFTA will host a St. Pete Street Food and Night Market event on May 19. On June 16, they’ll introduce the public to the Bacon and Beer Festival. The two we’re most excited about are the Grouper and Grunge Fest on July 28 and the St. Pete Asian Lantern Festival on August 18.

Sign of more great events to come 

A combination of entrepreneurial ingenuity and an appetite for the flavors that define our city should further illuminate our community’s commitment to the revitalization of Williams Park. Follow GBFTA on Facebook for updates on upcoming events.