Food Truck Fridays Planned In Mokena

MOKENA, IL — The Forest Preserve District of Will County will bring back a popular event to Mokena for the third year. The preserve's Food Truck Fridays will come to Mokena on three different dates as one of its locations this year.

“We are returning to Hammel Woods and Hickory Creek preserves, but we will be using different access points than we did in 2018,” said Ben Hecke, the Forest Preserve’s community partnerships and outreach coordinator. “The food trucks will be located at Hammel Woods – Route 59 Access in Shorewood and Hickory Creek Preserve – LaPorte Road Access in Mokena.”

The preserve said the food trucks will be at the Hickory Creek Preserve - La Porte Road access from 5 to 7:30 p.m. on June 14, July 12 and Aug. 9.

“In addition to the new locations, we are excited to welcome some new trucks to the schedule,” Hecke said. “This year’s truck lineup will include Tacos Maui, Burritoville, Cookies with Flavor, My Funnel Cake and Beach Bums Tropical Sno. They will be joined by return favorites, Cheesie's, The Fat Shallot, The Roaming Hog, Smokin' Z BBQ, Nothing Bundt Cakes and many more.”
Some of the trucks almost have a cult-like following, Hecke said. No matter where they roll, their fans are sure to follow.

If you want to know which truck will be where, check out the individual "Food Truck Fridays" listings on the preserve's Event Calendar.

In addition to some new locations, the events will be starting an hour later this year.

The later start should make it easier for people to pop into a preserve for a bite to eat after work or at dinnertime, Hecke explained.

“Starting a half-hour later is going to make a big difference,” he said. “We want as many people as possible to join in on the fun as we celebrate nature and food in our beautiful preserves.”

In addition to the food truck fare, the preserve said staff will be on hand to supply sidewalk chalk and games of beanbag toss. Staff also will be distributing milkweed seeds in an effort to help monarch butterflies and other pollinators.

In the past two years, Hecke said he has seen two types of food truck foodies come out for “Food Truck Fridays.”

“Fifty percent of the people come out with their families and they hang out, eat a meal and have a good time,” he explained. “The other 50 percent are grabbing a quick bite to eat or taking food home.”