LADSON, S.C. (WCSC) – Around 15,000 people have eaten their way around the Ladson Exchange Park over the weekend to enjoy the annual Black Food Truck Festival.
The festivities began this weekend with the “Rhythms & Booze” Opening Soiree at the International African American Museum and continued with the food trucks into the rest of the weekend.
The festival’s founder, Marcus Hammond, says between 45-50 vendors selling everything from seafood to desserts to apparel lined the park.
With the festival starting after the pandemic three and a half years ago, he says they’ve tried to bring the cultural ties between food, music and culture back year after year.
“The entertainment is top notch,” Hammond said. “We always find the best bands from the region, locally, around the area. People love the Kids’ Zone. They’re able to come out and have their kids with the Kids’ Zone. I mean, there’s just something for everybody. That’s the best part about it.”
Hammond says he wanted this tradition to be multi-generational so that anyone and everyone would keep coming back for the food, entertainment and more.
And aside from the daytime festivities, the festival has also hosted after parties, such as “Trappyoke” and “AfroChuck” for those who want to stay into the night.
“We really just wanted to celebrate the culture in a major, major way here in Charleston,” Hammond said. “Charleston is world-renowned for its hospitality and tourism and its cuisine, and Black people are a part of that. So, we want to celebrate that with the community and celebrate that with the world.”
In the future, Hammond wants to continue bringing this festival back to the Exchange Park and start a new culinary bootcamp for kids. He says he’s welcome to anyone reaching out to help make that goal a reality.
Click here to get in touch with Hammond and all things under the Black Food Festival.
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