Okay, I was in the mood for a snarky post with my earlier letter to the food trucks. I still mean it, though.

The Downtown Little Rock Partnership let me know this morning that they’ve been visiting with the food trucks already on the issue of shorter menus and quicker service.

They tell me they’re also weather-proofing the event as much as possible, given the chance of a few showers and cooler temps. Look for tents and other cover to be available for diners.

This year’s event will boast more trucks and more activities, which I was going to list in a later post, but may as well do here:

•  39 Etsy vendors will offer handmade crafts for sale. They have been moved to the old Downtown Mall at Capitol and Main to avoid any potential weather.
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• Over 30 food vendors are scheduled to participate, including many new ones (asterisk indicates 2011 participants): Arkansas Pineapple Whip (Conway), Aunt Sissy’s (Enola), Bryant’s BBQ & Catering, Clyde and Kiddo’s* (Alexander), Eat My Catfish (Benton), Haute Wheels (Mabelvale), Haygood BBQ, Hot Dog Mike*, Jackie’s Mobile Café, Juicy Bottoms Shaved Ice (Searcy), King Blvd*, Kristina’s Hawaiian Ice* (Maumelle), Kyler Arkansas Dogs, Le Pops*, Lewis & Edna Mobile Grill, Luncheria Mexicana Alicia*, Meyer Dogs, Philly’s (North Little Rock), Red River Catering (Judsonia), Repicci’s Italian Ice, Snow Blizzard (Hot Springs), Taqueria Jalisco San Juan, The Sugar Shack Sweets & Treats, The Banana Leaf*, The Southern Gourmasian,Willy Dog USA and Wishbone’s*.
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• Heifer International, one of the event sponsors, will host a children’s plaza with games and activities.
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• This year’s event will include several beer gardens, live music and more.

You will have to purchase tickets to buy food again this year. I don’t even remember doing this last year, but I guess I did. I’ve received some feedback that folks didn’t like waiting in line to buy tickets, then waiting again to buy food.

I’ve heard that the use of tickets was a point of contention among the trucks during planning this year, with worries about repayment as well as just hacking off the customers. But it seems the ticket system won out again, which I suppose is fine with me if things move quickly.

All being said, I was proud of the Little Rock food scene last year as I walked around. All these kinks can be easily worked out, which is why I wrote the earlier post. I hope you’ll support the food trucks this Saturday, bringing an umbrella, a good appetite, and sturdy shoes. Just in case.

Photos from last year’s event: