By now, it’s an annual rite of spring in Rochester: the first food truck rodeo of the season at the Rochester Public Market. And more often than not, the weather is lousy.
The 2026 kickoff on April 29 was no exception; temperatures were in the 40s and a steady rain fell throughout the evening. But a good crowd of hardy and hungry Rochesterians turned out to get their first fixes of food truck fare.
The evening’s live band was understandably canceled, but roughly 25 food trucks and food stands vended at the event. Most were familiar favorites; notably absent were some longtime trucks that hit the brakes last year: Petit Poutinerie, The Meatball Truck and Stingray SushiFusion.
It was the first food truck rodeo for RocLobster, a new stand at the market that serves four kinds of lobster rolls, fish fries and more. Co-owner Brian Wirth was pleasantly surprised at the number of Rochesterians in attendance.
“We were a little worried with the weather that it wouldn’t be that solid of a turnout,” he said. “It turned out that it was really very steady. It gave us a good opportunity to see where our strengths and weaknesses were for that kind of volume.”
When is the next Food Truck Rodeo at the Rochester Public Market?
The events will continue from 5 to 9 p.m. on the last Wednesday of each month through September at the market at 280 N. Union St. The musical lineup will be:
Find more information at cityofrochester.gov or call the market office at 585-428-6907.
Tracy Schuhmacher is food and drink reporter for the Democrat and Chronicle. Email her at TracyS@Gannett.com. Follow her on Instagram.
This article originally appeared on Rochester Democrat and Chronicle: Cold and rain don’t deter Rochesterians from first food truck rodeo
Reporting by Tracy Schuhmacher, Rochester Democrat and Chronicle / Rochester Democrat and Chronicle
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
