Food Truck Festival serves up goodness to thousands across the Mississippi Gulf Coast

May 31, 2021June 9, 2021 By Amanda Compton-Ortiz Events

An estimated 2,500 people indulged in great food and fun during the area’s first-ever Food Truck Festival.
     Twenty-two food vendors converged on the grounds of the Big Play Entertainment Center in Biloxi on May 16, 2021, to offer up their menu’s best to patrons with a hankering for only what their mobile businesses can provide.
     “Coming out of COVID, it was important for us to become more engaged with our local audience and create something that would encourage people to get out and enjoy the outdoors, listen to some music, eat some great food and just have some fun,” said Jesse Alvarez, director of sales for SuperTalk Mississippi Media, host for the event.
     Kenny Vest, director of operations for SuperTalk Mississippi Media, was impressed with the turnout for the inaugural event.
     “We’re off to a great start,” he said shortly after the event got underway at 11 a.m.
    The event was free admission and featured live music by Klass Kings, a beer garden, carnival rides and games nearby, a face-painting station, and several other non-food vendors.
     Among them was Amelia Blue Boutique, an online store selling women’s clothing and accessories. The Boutique’s owner, Tiffany Partida, said she was delighted to participate in the festival.
     “We are just enjoying the atmosphere the event has to offer,” she said. “It’s family-friendly so just being able to meet and talk with people and introduce them to the boutique on such a beautiful day is exciting.”

Amara and Astrid Mayberry of Biloxi, Miss., with Angie Hoover, also of Biloxi, Miss., and Olivia Lestrade of Ocean Springs, Miss., were excited to get a refreshing shaved Kona Ice beverage under warm, sunny skies during the inaugural Food Truck Festival in Biloxi on May 16, 2021.

Angela Turner of New Orleans, La., is happy to receive her order from Kiah Pasley at True Style Chicken -n- Waffles, one of 22 food vendors that participated in this year’s Food Truck Festival.

     The event was also a pet-friendly one, with dozens of citizens bringing along their furry companions to join in the fun.
     “We are loving this,” said active duty military servicewoman Dawn Fink of Ocean Springs, who attended the event with her husband George and Shadow, the couple’s 8-year-old Husky/German Shepherd mix. “The food trucks are definitely what brought us out here. And Shadow’s nose is definitely enjoying it.”
     Gulfport resident Marcia Albert wanted to bring her mother, Lita Albert, to the event so she could introduce her to the wonderful flavors of Tin Roof Rd Coffee & Grubb Food Truck.
“I just stumbled across the Tin Roof recently with a friend, and it is so good I had to come back for more,” Marcia said.
     Sticki Situationz Food Stand owner Donielle Easy-Mitter of Covington, La., said she gladly accepted the invitation to participate in the inaugural Food Truck Festival.
     “We are happy to be here to help support small businesses and other food truck operators,” she said. “Plus, we get to serve some tasty food to our customers. It’s a win-win for everyone.”

Sticki Situationz Food Stand owner Donielle Easy-Mitter of Covington, La., was proud to receive an invitation to participate in this year’s inaugural Food Truck Festival in Biloxi.

Mimi McCarthy of Grandma Mimi’s Face Painting begins her work on Brynn Bealer, 4, of Biloxi, Miss. The booth was one of several non-food vendors that participated in the Food Truck Festival.

     While other cities throughout South Mississippi have held similar events, the Food Truck Festival is the first of its kind when it comes to the number of food trucks that participated and just the overall scale and magnitude of the event, according to Alvarez.
     SuperTalk Mississippi Media has four statewide radio networks, 28 talk and music stations, SuperTalk TV and over 50 affiliates covering every inch of the state. It’s stations have hosted popular local events such as the Gulfport Music Festival and CPR Fest on the Mississippi Gulf Coast.
     This year’s Food Truck Festival was put together in about 45 days, said Alvarez, and organizers plan to hold the event again next year and make it even bigger.
     “With the power of our reach and a desire for our radio stations to connect more closely with our local communities, we’re excited to see this event grow,” he said.

On the cover: Mike and Lyn Gill of Biloxi with sons Easton, 6, and Keegan, 11, take advantage of traditional fair food favorites offered up by T&J Concessions during the first-of-its-kind Food Truck Festival that took place just outside Biloxi’s Big Play Entertainment Center on May 16, 2021.

Michele and Jabbar Hawthorne of Gulfport, Miss.

Marcia and Lita Albert of Gulfport, Miss.

Keisha Cain and Sadarien Smith of Shreveport, La.

Madison McNabb and Piper Linn of Keepin’ It Tasty, Pascagoula, Miss.

Kevin Hawes and Trinity McNeill of Gulfport, Miss.

Kenny Lee, Amaiya Nguyen and Kaylie Lee, all of Biloxi, Miss.

James and Nicole Jordan of Ocean Springs, Miss., with sons Easton, 4, and Sage, 7

The Trevino family from Thibodaux, La., Dasani, Annie and Rolando, are with Sakari Rosales, also of Thibodaux, La.

Harper, 5, and Stella, 7, of Ocean Springs, Miss., enjoy their meal together in the beautiful outdoors.

Kenneth Hinton and Samantha Robitzsch, both of Biloxi, Miss.

Kelsey and Lakita Booker of Pascagoula, Miss.

George and Dawn Fink of Ocean Springs, Miss., with their 8-year-old Husky/German Shepherd mix, Shadow.

Charles, Joshua and Clarissa Pittman of D’Iberville, Miss., with their furry companions, Lily and Paisley.

Tyler and David Galvin of Long Beach, Miss.

Chris and Lavetta Jones of Gulfport, Miss., with Todd and Angela Arnold of Biloxi, Miss.

Tanya Simmons of SuperTalk Mississippi Media, with Biloxi, Miss., residents Kristy, Kinsley and Mark Smith.

Chantel Townsend and Nicole Henderson of Long Beach, Miss.

Brooklyn, Austin and Madi Jo King of Gulfport, Miss., with Buster, an adopted Collie mix.

Roxleigh Lyons of Kona Ice Shaved Ice Truck

Tiffany Partida of Biloxi, Miss., owner of Amelia Blue Boutique; and Megan Illich of Bay St. Louis, Miss., owner of Maid by Meagan Cleaning Services, were among several non-food vendors that participated in the Food Truck Festival.

Klass Kings band members Sam Hall, lead singer, and drummer Niko Everette provide musical entertainment during the Food Truck Festival.

Dale Russell and Angela Turner of New Orleans, La.

Rhode Island native Nahja Grooms of Biloxi, Miss., with Lionel Jones, 2

Vaden McReynolds and Jan Powell of Biloxi, Miss.

Lianne Allard and Rigo Vargas of Biloxi, Miss.

Samantha Stepro and Savanna Griffin, 9, with Derek Benson and son Talis, 3

Bethany Webster and Ethan Hinson, both of Biloxi, Miss.

Amanda Compton-Ortiz

Amanda Compton-Ortiz holds a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Journalism from the University of Mississippi. She relocated from North Mississippi to Long Beach in October 2016. Amanda has worked for more than 20 years in journalism, leading and reporting for various community news publications throughout the state. She has received numerous awards for her editorial contributions from the Mississippi Press Association and placed among 224 universities competing across the United States and Canada for Reach, a personally created magazine for women.