10-02-2025
Over 30 food trucks bring fresh twists to Panama City Beach Food Truck Festival
BAY COUNTY, Fla. (WMBB) – More than 30 food trucks lined up at Panama City Beach's Food Truck and Craft Beer Festival.
The event at Aaron Bessant Park quickly became a haven for foodies.
Local favorites were joined by new vendors bringing in fresh twists on classic dishes and innovative flavors. Families friends and food lovers strolled through the festival grounds in search of their favorite new meal.
Take a trip back in time with Cirque Italia's Water Circus
Some vendors came from as far away as Pensacola to showcase their creations.
'We come from Pensacola. So the Jordan Valley Restaurant, Mediterranean restaurant, we actually have a brick-and-mortar in Pensacola. So it's a sit-down dine-in restaurant so we travel out here and we love serving food. we're looking forward maybe to a better day today. But it's great. I mean, that's kind of why we do it. We like to see people's smiles, know they like our food or, you know, so it's fun,' Food truck owners said.
Trucks offered everything from tacos to crepes to fried rice and jerky, alongside the tasty food, the event featured craft drinks to flush it down.
Vendors also set up shops to sell clothes, jewelry, and more.
'They're here at 6 a.m. prepping the food. The staff is here. These are mobile kitchens. It's a restaurant on wheels. It's not easy to support them. It's a sport. These are guys that have ten by ten tents that are selling the jewelry, homemade jewelry, and all the clothing and that sort of stuff,' Food Truck Festivals of America owner Anthony Pepe said.
Pepe says each year the crowd keeps getting bigger and bigger.
Washington County community hosts 2nd annual Black History Parade
'I don't want to leave and I don't think these food trucks want to leave. The patrons last night, we had to kick them out. And we had a record crowd here yesterday. It was unbelievable. Today is a little slower, but it's still fantastic. And these food trucks are cooking the best food,' Pepe said.
Pepe says he's planning on adding more food trucks and craft vendors for next year's event.
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
