Meals on Wheels at the Original Gainesville Food Truck Rally

The Gainesville food truck scene wasn’t on the rise until 2013 when the parking lot of High Dive, normally a popular live music venue, held a food truck rally along with a free concert.

Sponsored by Glory Days, a live music and event promoter, and the Pelican Brothers Food Truck, the 2013 rally created an event and tradition to be shared by truck owners and members of the community. The original idea for the rally was drawn from watching Food Network’s show “The Great Food Truck Race.”

Pat Lavery, the owner of High Dive and organizer of the rallies, brings in 10 to 12 diverse food trucks for people to sample affordably priced, high-end foods. According to Lavery, trucks from the area like Cilantro Tacos and Charlie’s Snow Shack serve wide ranges of food, with some trucks including vegan and vegetarian options.

Customers try foods of all kinds and cultures at trucks like some favorite past participants including Soup to Nuts, Monsta Lobsta and Humble Wood Fire.

Cilantro Tacos food trailer has been part of approximately 20 rallies, according to Cilantro Tacos partner, Sen Khiev.

“There’s usually a great crowd and energy from all the people there,” Khiev said. “It can be hectic, a little chaotic, but it’s always fun and exciting for us.” 

At each rally, customers vote on their favorite food trucks with donations, allowing the event to donate money to a good cause. 

“It’s a unique cultural tradition in Gainesville that benefits a different local charity every time,” Lavery said.

The truck with the most votes, counted in donations, also receives a gift card from a local business. Some past donations have been given to organizations including Faithful Friends Animal Rescue and Habitat For Humanity.

There’s usually a great crowd and energy from all the people there. It can be hectic, a little chaotic, but it’s always fun and exciting for us.

Rallies bring hundreds of people, sold out trucks and a free concert offered by High Dive inside. Lavery hopes to add a new sandwich truck to the mix, as he now invites nearly twice as many trucks than the amount at the first rally. For those looking to sit down and grab a drink, High Dive offers a fully stocked bar outside on the deck along with tables and seating.

High Dive continues to feed Gainesville with numerous rallies. January 26 will be the 6th anniversary of the Original Gainesville Food Truck Rally. Details will be released soon regarding the next rally.

Like High Dive on Facebook to keep up with the food truck rally buzz.

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