By EMILY REED / Special to the Reporter

ALABASTER – Alabaster’s Westwood Baptist Church is gearing up to usher in the summer season with a family-friendly food truck event on May 17.

“The event is to encourage families from the community to come out and have a good time,” said student ministry assistant Abby Vann. “It serves as a way to bring everyone together and kick off the beginning of summer.”

This is the second year for the event “Food Trucks and Families”, which features local food trucks that come and set up on the church grounds, along with games for kids and inflatables.

Vann said in 2016, roughly 350 people attended the event.

The event will have food trucks from vendors such as Devil Dawgs, Kona Ice, Frios, Lazy Boy BBQ and Master Taco.

The church will also be selling drinks in addition to the food truck vendors, according to Vann.

The event begins at 6 p.m. near the grassy area by the playground, and should wrap up at about 8 p.m.

Vann said individuals do not have to attend Westwood Baptist Church to attend the event.

“This is a celebration of the end of the school year,” Vann said. “It is a great time for families to come out and have a good time. If there are people that would like to know more information about the church, they will be on site to talk with them, but this is open to people throughout the community and even to other communities in Shelby County as well.”

The event itself is free, but Vann said the vendors will be charging for food so families should plan accordingly.

“There are going to be games for both kids and teenagers, and there is a playground for the little kids, so there is something for all ages,” Vann said.

For more information about the event, contact Vann at students@ewestwood.org, Jarred Boyd at jboyd@ewestwood.org or by calling the church at 664-0122.

Westwood Baptist Church is located at 1155 Alabaster Blvd.