As one of Levelland’s many traditions, the summer’s monthly Food Truck Days bring downtown traffic. There are two more Food Truck Days this year, and each will provide a way to get outside, socialize and enjoy some lunch.
“If you want to go down there and eat, or if you need to let your kids run wild while you eat, then it’s a great activity.” Main Street Manager Kelly Hancock said. “It gives them something to do, especially in the summertime when it’s beautiful on our awesome courthouse lawn.”
According to Hancock, Food Truck Days started in 2021 when someone noticed there were very few places to eat downtown. They wanted to give more options and possibly get more “brick-andmortar” restaurants, so they started inviting food trucks.
“That’s really where it started is to get people to come downtown, walk the square and do some shopping on top of recruiting one of [the trucks] to come downtown and be part of our area,” Hancock said.
Every year, Hancock submits a special events application through City Hall. This allows her to block off parking spaces and get tables and chairs put out on the square. Since Food Truck Days started, the schedule has changed to better fit citizens’ interests and needs.
“The first, I think two years, it ran from March to October or November, and then when I came on board we shortened it because it seemed like people stopped going as much,” Hancock said. “I remember the very first one, I went down there to eat, and the wind was freezing, so I was like, okay, let’s make this where it’s a little bit nicer weather.”
Hancock said she finds the food trucks through Facebook, inspectors and recommendations. Some come from Levelland, but most are from Lubbock.
“It’s just kind of word of mouth, and if they have a successful day, they’re excited to come back,” Hancock said. “I try to keep it at three to four food trucks, and then I’ll have a specialty, and usually if we don’t do any more than four, they will sell out. I also try to make sure that if we have a hamburger truck, I don’t have two of them, so if you wanted to go downtown, you have four new restaurants that you can go eat at.”
The next Food Truck Days are planned for Aug. 20 and Sept. 17 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. There will also be food trucks at events like Trunk-or-Treat and Christmas on the Square. For more information and to learn about future main street events, visit their website or Facebook page. “If you do grab food downtown, make sure you stop at your favorite store or go see a store you’ve never seen before,” Hancock said. “We have some great opportunities, and the merchants really try to do a good job of having sales on those days They donate to everybody in the community, so let’s give back to them too.”