By Mike McCombs
The Lowcountry Jaycees are hosting the 4th annual Beaufort Food Truck Festival from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m., Saturday, Oct. 9 on Paris Avenue in Port Royal.
“I’m excited for it, looking forward to the best festival we’ve had yet,” Lowcountry Jaycees President Nicklas Mayrand said.
The festival is free and open to the public. A dozen food trucks will be on site providing a variety of delicious dining options. There will be live music from local musicians, a kid zone, a petting zoo and an area to participate in a variety of games for the whole family.
For the first time, there will also be a beer tent.
The biggest changes for this year’s festival, however, are location and extended hours.
Mayrand said the change in location just made sense. Now that Beaufort Town Center is loaded with new businesses, it didn’t make sense to tie up all of their parking for a Saturday. And he said Port Royal’s Parris Avenue, between 10th and 6th streets, is perfect for this type of event.
And the extended hours means the festival could book more entertainment into the evening – Campfire Tyler and Steel Rail Express are among the acts scheduled – and that vendors are selling food and beverages for both lunch and dinner, making it possible to raise more money.
Most of the proceeds of this event, the signature event of the Lowcountry Jaycees, will benefit Jaycee Camp Hope, a statewide residential camp for individuals with intellectual disabilities aged 7 and older. Camp Hope, established in 1969, strives to give campers healthy experiences outdoors through four summer sessions. Benefits include exercise, outdoor activities, personal growth, and social development with peers and caring adults.
The Jaycees will use the remaining proceeds for local community causes.
“I’m excited for the things we can do in the community afterward,” Mayrand said. “With us making more money, looking to do more in the community, it’s our biggest festival, yet, even having to get it up and running in less time (than usual). I’m super excited.”
The Lowcountry Jaycees, also known as the Junior Chamber of Commerce, are the premiere leadership training and community service organization for men and women between the ages of 21–40. They promote leadership training and self-improvement by providing service and support for our community.
For more information, contact Ashley Doucette or Nicklas Mayrand at beaufortfoodtruckfestival@gmail.com or call 843-940-8645.
Mike McCombs is the editor of The Island News and can be reached at TheIslandNews@gmail.com.
