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Food Truck and Craft Beverage Festival

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  Published in Food and Wine on Friday, September 12th 2025 at 17:10 GMT by WJHG
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Riverbend Park Welcomes the 2025 Food‑Truck & Craft Beverage Festival

On Saturday, September 12, 2025, Riverbend Park in Cedar Falls, Iowa, became the epicenter of culinary excitement when the city hosted its first annual Food‑Truck & Craft Beverage Festival. The two‑day celebration, which ran from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., drew an estimated 8,000 residents, tourists, and food‑enthusiasts from across the Midwest, all eager to sample the region’s most innovative street‑food concepts and locally produced beverages.

A Quick Look at the Lineup

More than 30 food trucks and 15 craft beverage vendors lined up along the park’s main promenade, each offering a unique take on classic flavors. The festival’s official vendor list—available on the festival’s Facebook page—highlighted a range of options:

On the beverage side, participants could sample:

• High‑End Craft Beers from Cedar Falls Brewery, featuring a limited‑edition “Autumn Harvest” saison.
• Artisan Ciders from Orchard Springs, known for their “Blueberry Brine” crisp.
• Small‑Batch Distilled Spirits from Prairie Spirits, offering a new “Maple‑Sage” whiskey.
• Non‑Alcoholic Alternatives such as “Mango‑Turmeric” kombucha and “Lavender‑Honey” iced tea.

The event’s sponsorship roster included the City of Cedar Falls, the Cedar Falls Chamber of Commerce, and the Iowa Craft Beverage Association—linking the festival to a wider network of local artisans and producers.

Family‑Friendly Fun

Beyond the food and drink, the festival featured a children’s corner complete with face‑painting, a mini‑zoo, and a “Build‑Your‑Own Taco” contest. According to a press release posted on the city’s tourism website, parents could relax while their kids enjoyed a safe, entertaining environment. The kids’ contest culminated in a prize of a free dinner for the whole family at one of the participating food trucks.

For those who prefer live music, the main stage played acoustic sets from local indie musicians every hour, with the highlight being a collaboration between the Cedar Falls Jazz Band and the community folk singer, Emma Thompson. The final performance, a sunset encore featuring a string quartet and a drum circle, drew a standing ovation from the crowd.

A Focus on Sustainability

A recurring theme in the festival’s promotional materials was sustainability. Vendors were encouraged to use biodegradable utensils, offer refill stations, and reduce food waste. According to the festival’s “Green Initiative” page, the event partnered with the local waste management authority to ensure that all recyclables were properly sorted. In addition, a compost station ran alongside the food trucks to capture leftover vegetable scraps and packaging waste.

The city’s mayor, Jane Mitchell, took to the stage at 4 p.m. to thank the community for their support of this environmentally conscious gathering. “Cedar Falls has always prided itself on community spirit and innovation,” she said. “Today, we showcase the best of our local culinary talent while keeping our park and our planet clean.”

Behind the Scenes: Planning and Partnerships

The festival’s concept originated with a collaborative effort between the Cedar Falls City Council and the Iowa Craft Beverage Association, as detailed on the association’s official website. The association’s co‑founder, Daniel Harper, emphasized the importance of showcasing Iowa’s growing craft beverage sector. “By bringing the craft beverage community together with street‑food vendors, we create a marketplace that benefits both the artisans and the broader economy,” he explained.

A dedicated planning committee—composed of food truck owners, beverage producers, local business leaders, and city officials—held monthly meetings to coordinate logistics. Their responsibilities ranged from securing permits, to setting up electrical hookups, to arranging a security detail for the event. Their work was highlighted in an exclusive interview with the festival’s co‑organizer, Maria Gonzales, published on the city’s community news portal. She noted, “Our aim was to create an inclusive space where residents could taste something new, learn about local producers, and simply enjoy a day out with friends and family.”

Visitor Experience and Take‑Away Tips

Those who attended the festival appreciated the easy navigation layout—marked signs, color‑coded vendor zones, and a digital map accessible through the festival’s official app. For first‑time visitors, the app suggested a “Tasting Trail” that cycled through each food truck’s top dishes, ensuring a balanced experience across the day.

The festival also set up a “Food & Beverage Pairing” booth where knowledgeable staff demonstrated how to match beer styles with specific tacos or how to combine cider flavors with vegan dishes. This educational component was praised by food bloggers who visited the event. “It’s refreshing to see producers talk to their audience in a relaxed setting, especially when they provide hands‑on tips about pairing,” one blogger, Tom Reynolds, commented in his post on his Instagram feed.

Looking Ahead

The success of the inaugural Food‑Truck & Craft Beverage Festival has already sparked discussions about making it an annual tradition. According to a city council memo archived on the Cedar Falls website, the next edition is tentatively slated for early October 2026, with a projected budget increase of 25 % to accommodate more vendors and expanded programming.

The city also announced plans to extend the festival’s footprint into adjacent parks, creating a “Taste‑Tour” that would feature additional culinary hotspots around Cedar Falls. This expansion, the memo states, will be contingent on community feedback and sponsorship opportunities that can support the larger scale event.

Final Thoughts

The 2025 Food‑Truck & Craft Beverage Festival at Riverbend Park proved to be a triumphant blend of culinary creativity, community spirit, and environmental responsibility. From the sizzling grills of Taco Loco to the cool pours of Orchard Springs cider, the day’s offerings showcased Iowa’s diverse food culture. For anyone planning a trip to Cedar Falls—or simply looking for a taste of the Midwest’s best street‑food scene—this festival is a must‑visit, and one that promises to become a staple in the region’s cultural calendar.