ALBEMARLE — The fifth-annual Albemarle’s Food Truck Friday concert series that combines live music performances with a selection of food truck vendors is set to begin its 2025 season this weekend.
The monthly tradition at City Lake Park — located at 815 Concord Road — runs from April 4 to Oct. 3 and features seven different artists throughout the duration of the event series.
“Join us for Food Truck Fridays each month at City Lake Park from 5:30 p.m. to 9 p.m.,” the City of Albemarle announced on March 11. “Enjoy great food from a variety of food trucks and free live music. Bring your family, friends, and neighbors, and don’t forget a blanket or lawn chair.”
The Food Truck Friday event has been expanded over the years in the hopes of spreading the word of generating additional community involvement. The initial installment of this year’s concert series will be a performance by the Shelby-based southern rock and bluegrass band Dirty Grass Soul on Friday night.
“This Friday is the opening night for Food Truck Fridays at City Lake Park in Albemarle,” the Stanly Convention and Visitors Bureau stated in a promotional advertisement on March 31. “Come on down NC 73 and bring your yard chairs or a blanket. Enjoy some great food and the music of Dirty Grass Soul. It should be a great time for everyone!”
Next up, the Triangle’s blues-rock outfit The Phoebes Band will highlight the May 2 Food Truck Friday, followed by the Charlotte-based Fleetwood Mac tribute act The Chain (June 6), Kernersville-based Motown group The Legacy Motown Revue (July 11), Charlotte variety band Chris Taylor and The Rumor (Aug. 1), Kannapolis-based variety band Too Much Sylvia (Sept. 5), and the Carolina beach music act Jim Quick and Coastline (Oct. 3).
While not all food trucks are available at each monthly event, over a dozen different vendors are scheduled to make an appearance between April and October.
Participating trucks for the 2025 season include Allen’s BBQ Shack, Cousins Maine Lobster, Fatback’s Soul Food and BBQ, Happy Eatz, Higgins and Son BBQ, J&M Food Shack, and Little Taste of Chicago.
Additionally, Mollie’s Mini Donuts, Pride Catering, Smokin Mac, Snobiz, Spudwings, Tacoverse, What-A-Burger #13, and Uwharrie Brewing are listed as food truck participants.
Uwharrie Bank, Lowder Weyrick Group, the Stanly County Arts Council, the North Carolina Arts Council, the Stanly Convention and Visitors Bureau, and Allen Tate Realtors are the six official sponsors for the 2025 season of Food Truck Fridays.
Sponsorship and vendor opportunities are available by contacting City of Albemarle staff at 704-984-9564; those interested in bringing their own food truck to events can contact organizers at 704-984-9560.