Tarentum Recreation Board shakes it up with Food Truck Festival

Tacos, shrimp po’boys and ice slushies will be on the menu at Tarentum Recreation Board’s inaugural Food Truck Festival.

Scheduled for Aug. 11, the event is expected to fill Riverview Memorial Park.

“We thought this would be a fresh idea for Tarentum,” said Carrie Fox, board president.

“We wanted to shake it up a bit.”

Vendors will include Fat Cat’s Subs, Harvest Moon, McFeely’s, Kona Ice and Tocayo.

Food and music along the Allegheny River in Tarentum isn’t new. But the festival-like atmosphere is something that board members hope will draw people from surrounding neighborhoods and showcase the park.

Pittsburgh rockers Daniels & McClain will hit the stage at 6 p.m.

Benches are available at the park, but guests are welcome to bring a lawn chair or blanket to sit on the grass.

The rec board kicked off a full summer lineup in May with concerts scheduled every few weeks at the Carl Magnetta Jr. Memorial Amphitheater.

People usually hit up the Snack Shack for French fries and nachos, but Fox said the fare offered by food truck vendors will elevate munchies to another level.

Fat Cat’s Subs from Cheswick will be on hand with its specialty hoagies that include cheese steak, Italian, and ham and cheese. People should get in line early for the shrimp po’boy, General Manager Mich Saliba said.

“That one’s new to our festival menu this year, and it’s one of our best sellers,” Saliba said. “Everyone can sell Italian subs, but this different.”

Fat Cat’s twist on the traditional Louisiana treat includes breaded butterfly shrimp with po’cat sauce, a spicy mayo that gives the sandwich a kick. The cost is $8.

Their other specialty is homemade limeade and sweet tea.

People might recognize the sub shop from neighborhood festivals, including Fridays on Fifth in New Kensington.

“We’ve been booked every weekend this summer,” Saliba said. “We like to be involved in the local community.”

Fox believes the food truck festival will be an instant hit. She plans to start with a few vendors and build on the offerings in the future.

“We have many loyal concert-goers, and this will be a good twist,” she said.

The food truck festival will run from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. on August 11 at Riverview Memorial Park, First Avenue, in Tarentum. A concert will begin at 6 p.m.