Food Truck Fiesta attracts thousands

RIO RANCHO — Thousands of people gathered for the City of Rio Rancho’s Second Annual Food Truck Fiesta at Cabezon Park Saturday.

The event ran from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. and featured plenty of food trucks and pop-ups.

The Food Truck Fiesta also had a main stage set up for live music and featured performances from bands like Negative Zero, and Paul Pino and the Tone Daddies.

Thirty food options set up shop for the party, including Phuckers Lemonade, Dawgs for a Cause, Phat Stax Burgers, Loaded Lemon, Savory Thyme Charcuterie, The Dough Box, Popped Candy, Sugar Bee’s Sweets, Red Taco Shop, Sierra’s Roasted Corn, Strawberries & More, 505 Bussin, Cerealsly Sweet, Thai Cuisine, Sugar Fluffin’ Cotton Candy, Menchie’s, Sourpuss Lemonade, Kona Ice, Umami Moto, Baked by Christiana, Roadside Smokehouse Jerky, Cavitos Green Taco Machine, Aguas Deliciosas, Italian Ice Rio, Shake it up, Sparkys Hot Dog Stand, Rev’s BBQ, Big Boss Hotlinks, ABQ Sweet Spot, and The Pop Co.

A truck that received quite an amount of buzz from fiesta-goers was Phuckers Lemonade, which served up an eye-popping “Mangonada,” a fresh mango blended together with lime juice and layered with Chamoy sauce, tajin, and topped with mango pieces.

The Red Taco Shop truck seemed to always have a long line as customers just could not get enough of their Quesabirria tacos.

“This is my second time in line ... who knows? I might go a third time; just don’t tell my wife” attendant Jensen Buhner jokingly said.

The same could be said about The Dough Box, whose gigantic food truck had a line of customers wanting brick oven pizza.

Serving up some baked goods was Baked by Christiana, which offered a variety of sweets, including pumpkin coffee cake danishes, Kentucky butter cake, and pistachio Kataifi brownies.

Finally, attendants said that Italian Ice Rio was the spot to “beat the heat,” and a popular flavor was their rainbow flavor. Their frozen treats also came with a toy — a plastic duck.

“It is so good! It looks pretty, too. I am pretty happy with the choice I made,” attendant Kennedy Reagan said.

PHOTOS: Second Annual Food Truck Fiesta

Nineteen pop-up shops were also in attendance, including Andrea’s Face Painting, BBKnit, Black Mesa Rose, Crystalized Healing, Savy Gifts 505, CK-zads, Jax and the Wick, Hot Habit, Fairest of All, Roo and Mae Creations, Anita’s Crafts, Sam’s Customs, La Senorita Mouse, Two Tin Whiskey Jewelry, Sassy Kakes, Jessica’s Jewelry, L&C Crafts, Twisted Sister’s Creation, and Heena Oasis.

Many bought holiday-themed crafts from L&C Crafts, and many children got their faces painted at Andrea’s.

Attendees also had the chance to vote for their favorite food trucks in different categories. The Rio Rancho Observer will post the winners once they are announced.