The Town of Burns Harbor will open the inaugural season of its Food Truck Square Saturday, Aug. 6 from 6 to 10:30 p.m. at 1237 Westport Rd.
The first in a series of events, the kick-off features regional eateries offering tasty treats at reasonable costs. In partnership with the Westchester Public Library, Aug. 6 will also include an outdoor blockbuster movie taking place, “A long time ago in a galaxy far, far away…” Themed family-friendly activities will include a trivia game on the movie series and children are encouraged to dress up as their favorite character from any of the episodes.
In addition to the regional eateries, the Chesterton-Porter Rotary Club will be on-site selling soda and water with all proceeds donated to the library. Popped popcorn, donated by the evening’s sponsor, will be free for moviegoers. As a departmental fundraiser, Burns Harbor Fire offers hotdogs, chips, cookies and glow sticks to attendees.
Burns Harbor’s Food Truck Square features a mixture of community and food. Event dates will be held throughout the summer and fall months once a week on Fridays, Saturdays or Sundays (special weekday dates may be added to the schedule). Each event will include a variety of food trucks and vendors as well as entertainment for all ages.
There is no general admission to the Food Truck Square and all are welcome. Picnic tables are available to the public, and attendees are encouraged to bring their own seating, if desired. Portable restrooms and parking also available.
In the event of rain, the Aug. 6 movie will be shown at the Burns Harbor Fire Station, located at 308 Navajo Trail.
“The Food Truck Square is the first of its kind in Burns Harbor and the region,” said Town Councilwoman and Redevelopment Commission member Toni Biancardi. “We hope local residents and visitors from throughout Northwest Indiana come to enjoy this unique gathering and business opportunity. The Food Truck Square also serves as a site activation to build upon Burns Harbor’s charming heritage and history — to help create a pedestrian-friendly town center and continue to evolve Burns Harbor into a vibrant small town.”
Located on the historic former site of the Westport Community Club — at the corner of Haglund and Westport roads, off of S.R. 149 — Burns Harbor leadership said the Food Truck Square’s ambiance will create a sense of place and identity to draw people into town.
Town Council member and RDC President Marcus Rogala said, “Visitors, vendors and sponsors have a rare opportunity to be part of this first-ever pilot program. The low-cost investment of phase 1 site activation, we hope, will grow into a larger economic development stimulator for Burns Harbor and eventually the larger region.”
For more information about the Aug. 6 event or upcoming Food Truck Square event dates and activities, visit www.facebook.com/BurnsHarborIndiana or www.facebook.com/BHFoodTruckSquare.
Interested food trucks/vendors or sponsors for the 2016 and 2017 seasons may contact Rogala at mrogala@burnsharbor-in.gov or 219-406-3272. Vendor applications and sponsorship sign-up forms are available at www.burnsharbor-in.gov under the Business & Development tab.