Food truck, brew events planned at Van Buren

The historic Carter County Courthouse in Van Buren will be the site of two events Saturday.

Kicking off the day will be the third annual Current River Food Truck Festival from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. A new event, Current River Bites & Brews, will take place from 5-10 p.m.

The food truck festival will feature 11 food trucks with a wide variety of food available for purchase, craft vendors displaying and demonstrating their handmade crafts, and a space for children’s activities, including animals from the Missouri Down Under Adventure Zoo.

“We will have live entertainment throughout the day and raffle prizes available,” said Jennifer R. Williams of University of Missouri Extension.

The Current River Bites & Brews is a follow-up event “to the highly successful Current River Food Truck Festival, hosted by the MU Extension, which takes place earlier in the day,” said Susan Van Winkle of the Van Buren Chamber of Commerce.

Winkle said the chamber “is thrilled to announce the addition of a new event. With the addition of the Bites & Brews event, visitors can now enjoy a full day of festivities in Van Buren, starting with delicious food from food trucks during the day, and then continuing into the evening with live music, food trucks, a beer tent and craft beer.”

A home brewing craft beer club, Bootheel United Zymgurists, will offer a selection of craft beers for sample and purchase, providing an opportunity for craft beer enthusiasts to learn from local brewers at the craft brewers club.

In addition to the craft beer, the chamber will have a beer tent with domestic beer for purchase. This will also include wine and cocktail selections.

The event will feature live music from local artists, including Keyven Dunn, Elliot Wade and headliners Jamie and Taylor, who bring a folk vibe with their renditions of traditional favorites.

The Current River Bites & Brews Festival is free to attend, making it accessible to everyone in the community, according to organizers.

“The event will take place at the historic old Carter County Courthouse, a picturesque location that adds to the charm and ambiance of the festival,” Van Winkle said.

Festival attendees should plan to park in the free parking area at Riverfront Park. A free shuttle will run throughout the day between the parking area and the festival grounds.

The Current River Food Truck Festival is made possible through the support of the local governments, community partners, sponsors and the University of Missouri Extension Council in Carter County. For more information, visit the Van Buren Chamber of Commerce website seevanburenmo.com or follow the Facebook page @seevanburenmo.