Tanger Outlets hosting 4th annual Lakes Region Food Truck Festival this weekend

TILTON — Over a dozen food trucks will join the fourth annual Lakes Region Food Truck Festival, 11 a.m.-3 p.m. on Saturday, May 11, at Tanger Outlets, marking Mother’s Day weekend. With no cost to attend, visitors can enjoy food, music and activities provided by the Lakes Region Chamber, Mix 94.1 and Granite State Credit Union.

Karmen Gifford, president of the Lakes Region Chamber, said the event is very popular and draws a large crowd.

“There's pretty long lines, and every year, no matter how many food trucks we've had, we run out of food,” she said.

Food-goers can choose from trucks including Pours & Petals, Lets Get Loaded, Tin Can Co, Loaded TOTZ, PEAKS Food Truck, The Refuge BBQ, Marsbar, Trucking Tacos, Kona Ice, Dudley's Ice Cream, Mi Corazon Taqueria and Kimberly's Gluten Free Kitchen. Gifford said there is a possibility of additional trucks coming, as well.

Each year, organizers choose a theme to represent the festival. This year's theme is Mother’s Day. Concord-based Pours & Petals will offer two Mother’s Day drinks: the Mama-rita, and the Mom-osa. Owner Erin Doonan said her specialty beverage catering service usually doesn’t make alcoholic drinks, but this event gives them a good opportunity to do so.

“We do have our liquor license; however, we don't often get the chance to sell alcohol,” Doonan said. “So this event is pretty special to us because we do get to mix our drinks with a little bit of liquor, and provide some beer and wine to the customers that come in.”

In addition to food and drink, activities will be available for children and adults alike. Lawn games and a chalk walk will be set up for families to enjoy. Breezeline will host a selfie station and bring a bucket truck for children to explore. Granite State Credit Union is providing complimentary biodegradable pots, soil and sunflower seeds. Katie Blanchette, the credit union's assistant vice president of marketing, hopes they'll make nice Mother’s Day gifts.

“We thought it would be nice for kids to plant flowers for their mom,” she said.

RePetes mobile comic book truck from Concord will join the festivities.

At the end of the day, Gifford wants attendees to enjoy themselves.

“We just hope people stop, swing by, grab something to eat, take a walk through, go run some errands, pick up stuff at the stores,” Gifford said. “It’s the change of season.”