Although the rain put a damper on the much-awaited second annual Christy J. Findlay Flanders Food Truck Festival on Friday and Saturday, Sunday was a huge success.
Around 800 people — the great majority attending on Sunday, when the sun came out — participated in the three-day fundraising event, which featured a variety of food trucks, kids activities and family entertaining.
“We love the food truck festival,” said Riverhead resident Stephanie Ramirez, who also attended last year. “Even though it rained, it’s nice to come and eat good food with your friends and family.”
Sponsored and organized by the Flanders, Riverside and Northampton Community Association, the festival was held at the grounds of the Truth Community Church on Bell Avenue.
This year the festival was renamed in honor of Christy J. Findlay who passed away last July 4 at age 33 due to complications from melanoma, a type of skin cancer.
Findlay, born and raised in Flanders, was a member of the Flanders Fire Department and beloved in the community. She was one of the original members of the food truck committee that brought this idea to life, said close friend and FRNCA president Ron Fisher.
“She worked on the site plans, she helped put the whole idea together, but she got sick and never got to see the food truck festival,” said Fisher.
Fisher and Findlay, because their last names both start with “Fi,” were always seated near each other in class.
“She was a very special person and we all remember her,” he said. “We decided that renaming the festival in her name was a nice way of honoring our friend.”
The event is FRNCA’s biggest fundraiser of the year, said Fisher, and because of the weather, this year’s attendance was far below what was expected, especially compared to last year, where about 2,500 people showed up.
“We will have to figure out a backup plan to fund all of the work the do this year,” said Fisher, who declined to say how much money they had fundraised, but that it was “less than last year.”
Nevertheless, because of the event’s popularity, organizers said that the festival will be on again next year, although they might change the date to June to avoid weather issues.
On Friday, the first day of the festival, the weather was windy, wet and cold and about 200 people attended, far less than expected based on last year’s turnout. Saturday was a washout due to the intense and unrelenting rain. Several food truck owners decided not to open and the organizers decided to close after about five hours. About 50 people attended that day.
“We’re really disappointed we lost two days,” said Fisher. “On Saturday we just let in people for free, but about 20 people generously donated anyway.”
Sunday, however, was completely different, and despite the threat of more rain, the day was sunny and hot, attracting hundreds of people. Organizers extended the hours until 8 p.m. to make up for Saturday’s weather.
“Everyone that came has loved it,” said Bubbles and Bowls food truck owner Carlos Patterson, who came from Ronkonkoma. “They really have enjoyed it.”
Attendees were able to try an array of delicious dishes from 15 different food trucks— from Puerto Rican empanadas and Italian bracciole to organic burgers, gourmet fries, zeppole, ice creams and authentic Mexican tacos. The smoked ribs, Mexican corn on the cob, açai bowls and bubble tea were especially popular as well.
“Today [Sunday] has been great and we have seen a lot of people,” said Elizabeth DeJesus of DeJesus Deli Taqueria, one of the food truck participants. “This is great for the community and it’s so important to see people come together.”
Other activities included bouncy houses and a rock climbing wall sponsored by the East Hampton YMCA.
Riverside Rediscovered and Truth Community Church also helped sponsor the event.
RiverheadLOCAL photos by Maria Piedrabuena
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