Union Centre Food Truck Rally in West Chester on Aug. 11

Food trucks from across the region will deliver countless foodie favorites as Union Centre Food Truck Rally rolls into West Chester on Friday, Aug. 11.

Rebecca Wilber, president, Union Centre Boulevard Merchant Association said a portion of the proceeds from the fifth annual food and music festival will benefit the Heroes’ Fund.

“Heroes’ Fund is a local nonprofit that supports veterans and their families in a variety of ways,” Wilber said.

Previous recipients have included Reach Out Lakota and Sojourner Recovery Services, among others. Monies have also been granted each month to over a dozen nonprofits and charities that have applied for funding throughout the year.

“This year, we need 250 volunteers to put on the rally, so we are reaching out to those charities we’ve helped through the year, and asking if there are people from their group that would be interested in volunteering, so we are excited about that,” Wilber said.

Organized by the Union Centre Boulevard Merchant Association (UCBMA), the rally will run from 11:30 a.m. to 10:30 p.m. and include more than 35 gourmet food trucks as well as beer and wine. There will be more craft beer selections available this year.

The food truck rally is always planned for the second Friday in August. By the beginning of March, the food trucks were already booked, Wilber said. (Fifteen to 20 trucks couldn’t participate due to the vendor spaces being filled.)

The all-day celebration of food will feature an array of items, ranging from barbecue, wings, burgers and desserts to Mexican and Korean. There will also be vegetarian options available. Vendors include Cuban Pete Sandwiches, Rovey’s Turkey Burgers, Great Crab Cakes, Texas Joe Tex Mex, Marty’s Waffles, 12 Degrees’ Italian Ice, Streetpops and many more.

“Just about anything you could imagine a food truck can make, it will be there. Food trucks are definitely a growing trend. Guests enjoy experiencing a variety of different foods, and for the most part, everything is made to order,” Wilber said.

Live entertainment will include Chuck Evans from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.; 3 Day Rule from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m.; and DV8 from 7:30 p.m. to 10:30 p.m. Fireworks sponsored by West Chester Township will begin at 10:15 p.m.

UCBMA has over 100 active members that meet once a month. Guests come from all over the Midwest and beyond to be a part of the Union Centre Food Truck Rally. More than 8,000 guests attended the event last year. Organizers said 10,000 guests are expected to attend in 2017.

“In years past, guests have come from Indiana, Kentucky, West Virginia. A couple of years ago, I received a call from Philadelphia from someone who wanted to attend. People are driving miles and miles to come to our event, which is pretty exciting,” Wilber said.

Contact this contributing writer at gmwriteon@aol.com.

How to go

What: Union Centre Food Truck Rally

When: 11:30 a.m. to 10:30 p.m. Friday, Aug. 11

Where: West Chester Clock Tower and Square/The Square @ Union Centre, 9285 Centre Pointe Drive, West Chester

Cost: Free. Items are available for purchase.

More info: www.ucbma.com and at www.facebook.com/UnionCentreFoodTruckRally. To volunteer, go to www.ucbma.com/volunteer. Children and dogs welcome.

Entertainment schedule:

11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.: Chuck Evans

1:30-3:30 p.m.: Tom Kaper

5-7 p.m.: 3 Day Rule

7:30-10:30 p.m.: DV8