The inaugural Bendigo Food Truck Carnival starts tomorrow night at the Bendigo Racecourse and runs until Sunday. 

Food Truck Carnival Co. business manager Peter Caldwell said the event was not to be confused with previous food truck festivals in Bendigo, which were part of a separate venture.

He said the carnival’s food trucks had been sourced from a range of locations, including Horsham and Ballarat.

“A lot of them are from regional Victoria,” Mr Caldwell said. 

Entertainment, such as carnival rides and fireworks, is also planned for the three-day event.

Mr Caldwell said the company sought to have a positive influence on the region’s economy by employing local people and using local food suppliers.

Central Vic Meats has received an order for 100 kilograms of minced meat, 30 kilograms of bacon and 70 kilograms of chicken wings – and that’s just from one vendor operating at the carnival.

“It’s good they’re using a local supplier,” Mark Kemp, the owner of Central Vic Meats, said.

He said the event had provided his business with opportunities to establish new contacts, including the carnival itself.

“They found us,” Mr Kemp said.

Mr Caldwell expected the Bendigo Food Truck Carnival to attract about 2000 – 3000 people a day.

“We’d love to make it an annual event,” he said.

Bendigo is one of a number of regional Victorian cities in which the company is staging carnivals. Others include Ballarat and Albury.

While the metropolitan market was flooded with food truck options, Mr Caldwell said regional cities didn’t get as many opportunities to sample the cuisines offered as part of the event.

He said the community’s reception to the Bendigo Food Truck Carnival had so far been positive. 

The Bendigo Food Truck Festival, staged in December, attracted criticism from several restaurateurs concerned the event was driving business away from established eateries.

Festival co-owner Jayden Donaldson said the event was Bendigo-owned and considered itself part of the local hospitality industry.

The new Bendigo Food Truck Carnival runs from 5pm – 10pm on Friday; 12pm – 10pm on Saturday; and 12pm – 9pm on Sunday.

Entry is free, but patrons can choose to make a donation to the Salvation Army at the gate.

Fireworks are planned for Friday night at 9.30pm.

The Bendigo Racecourse is in Ascot.

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