By DAVE DOMESCIK | Staff Writer

MONTEVALLO – The city of Montevallo is planning the fourth annual Spring Fling Family Food Truck Fest, which will be held on Saturday, April 26 from noon to 6 p.m.

The event will be held at the Orr Park Pecan Grove, and is being organized in partnership between Montevallo Main Street, Impact Montevallo and DRUM the Program. Admission to the event is free, and the event will feature food trucks and fun, family-friendly activities.

Courtney Bennett, the executive director of Montevallo Main Street, discussed the inspiration behind the creation of the Spring Fling Family Food Truck Fest.

“Spring Fling was designed to kickstart our local food truck scene, promote the arts, educate youth and adults on the risks of substance use and bring people together to make memories,” Bennett said.

Bennett further elaborated on the origins of the fair, citing the cooperation between agencies as a big reason for its initiation.

“We first discussed the idea of a food truck-centered event that would bring vitality and excitement downtown when it was brought up by Elvie Schooley, executive director of DRUM the Program, who at the time was a member of the Montevallo Main Street Promotion Committee,” Bennett said. “Sarah Hogan Shaw, director of Impact Montevallo and one of our Main Street program founders, also serves on that committee and providing positive opportunities for youth is one of Impact’s primary missions. Adding to that our goal of bringing people downtown with special events, the rest of the committee members worked together to create Spring Fling as we see it today.”

The event began in 2022, and had five food vendors at the initial installment. In 2024, the event grew to 12 food vendors and had an estimated 1,200 attendees. The numbers, according to Bennett, have a lot to do with the location of the event.

“The Pecan Grove is at the edge of our Main Street District and is the perfect location because it is walkable, easily accessible, beautiful and naturally shaded,” Bennett said. “Over the past several years, different community organizations have started hosting more and more events in this space.”

While the event is free to attend, Bennett still believes it has a positive overall impact on Montevallo as a whole.

“Spring Fling supports our community by providing something fun and free for families to do downtown,” Bennett said. “It brings people together and gives both residents and visitors another great reason to come to the Main Street District. Downtown businesses are supported by the increase in food traffic resulting in incidental sales that day and future sales when visitors return.”

Food trucks at this year’s event include BG’s Mini Donuts, C’s Cake & Coffee House, Coke Sales by Montevallo Athletic Club, Crêpe Magic, DogNation, M&M’s Lemonade Stand, Fox & Fredia and Taqueria El Camoioncito, with more to come.

“We will have more added as well,” Bennett said. “Our goal is to have at least 10 food trucks, in addition to the two drink vendors.”

For more information on the city of Montevallo, visit Cityofmontevallo.com.