3rd annual Kentucky Food Truck State Championship to be held Saturday

MOUNT VERNON, Ky. (FOX 56) — If you’re looking for something fun to do this Saturday, look no further than the 3rd annual Kentucky Food Truck State Championship in Renfro Valley, down in Rockcastle County.

The event is put on in partnership with Rockcastle County Tourism, the city of Mount Vernon, the Kentucky Music Hall of Fame, and Save the Children.

In year one, the event had 14 food trucks; in year two, up to 22, and now in year three, 36 hailing from all corners of Kentucky.

The contestants are all vying for the grand prize of $5,000 and, of course, bragging rights.

Organizers said an event like this gives people outside of Lexington and Louisville a chance to try options they don’t normally have.

It’s free to attend, but you will have to pay for your food at each individual truck.

If you think the food options are just going to be fried chicken and southern-style comfort food you’d be wrong. From Korean to Mediterranean to New York-style pizza and everything in between, the contest features foods from around the globe.

“Growing up in southeast Kentucky, you’re used to that good Appalachian home cooking,” said Executive Director of Rockcastle Co. Tourism Jessica Blankenship. “Chicken and dumplings, the meatloaf, the good Southern cooking. But now you have this opportunity in a community just like Rockcastle County that you can get multiple cultures of food in one spot is amazing.”

You can find a full menu for each of the participating food trucks here.

Aside from trying a bite from one of the trucks, you can get a taste of Kentucky in a number of other ways too.

More than 20 local craft vendors will be on-site, selling everything from jewelry to homemade soap.

Musicians from across the state will be featured on four different stages.

For kids, the event also has a new children’s activity center, meant to be fun for all ages.

“Kids can actually go from booth to booth and collect items; it will be a scavenger hunt,” Blankenship said. “There’ll be all kinds of little activities for all ages. As a result, they’ll learn more about reading concepts, math concepts. So it’s an educational experience, but we’re having fun with it, and fun for the entire family.”