By Lucia Coutermarsh, Vermont Country correspondent.
BRATTLEBORO — A festival that promises the two most important things, good food and fun, the sixth annual New England Street Food Festival will be held on the Brattleboro Common from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sept. 28.
Brought to you by the Brattleboro Reformer, the community-focused festival aims to provide a good time for the whole family at no cost to enter.
Six years ago, Reformer advertising representative Bud Lolatte decided he wanted to put on an event for the community that would bring people together while supporting local business. With the goal of giving back to the local community, Lolatte spoke on his favorite part about putting on the festival.
“When we started this, it was more of a community celebration and end-of-summer celebration. At the end of September we’re kind of coming into foliage, and there’s an end-of-summer celebration for the community,” Lolatte said. “That’s why we were absolutely adamant about not charging an entrance fee, for people to come out to enjoy a nice late summer day afternoon. Listen to good music, get some good food, see some good crafts, and anybody in town can get there.”
This year’s festival-goers will be able to enjoy food from local eateries like Curbside Cafe, Vegan AF, Anon’s Thai Cuisine, Mach’s Wood Fired Pizza, Juniors Food Truck, Frisky Cow Gelato, Love Buzz Coffee, Scott Farm, Hamster Wheel Snow Cones, Crossroads Tacos and ATK Customs.
Jeremy Dancosse is the owner of Crossroads Taco Food Trailer, who will be participating in the food festival for the third time as a food vendor. The community-centered atmosphere keeps Dancosse coming back.
“My first time, I really didn’t know what to expect, and then I did it and it was great,” Dancosse said. “I like how very family-focused the events are. That’s a plus because I have a family of my own, so that’s what really brought me in and it’s been great so far.”
Dancosse prides himself on his authentic food that Crossroads Food Trailer offers and the kind of service that his business and the other Street Food Festival vendors provide.
“I would have to say, probably food that they can’t really find anywhere around here that’s very authentic Hispanic food. Stuff that you would find if you had to cross the border to find very authentic Mexican food,” Dancosse said. “I’m always happy and smiling and I try to be one-on-one with all my customers.” Dancosse spoke on why he believes people should come out and participate in the festival.
“It’s a great place for all your family, for the adults, and for all the small. There’s a lot of stuff to do, there’s great activities, awesome food, and if you like alcohol, there’s great alcohol. It’s just all around fun and great for a family event.”
The New England Street Food Festival is partnering with the Que for the Cause and Brattleboro Buddy Walk for the second year. Open to all who wish to participate, the Buddy Walk is a local fundraiser for the Special Olympics programs of Windham County and the Down Syndrome Awareness program. The 1-mile walk is free to register and will take place during the festival, on the Brattleboro Commons, beginning at 11 a.m.
“They inquired us, and we said this would be a great little thing to add to the festival atmosphere,” Lolatte said. “It just made it so we’re basically going to be utilizing the whole Brattleboro Common this year, and it just makes it more of a festival atmosphere.”
In the years following the initial COVID outbreak, the main goal for the festival has been to put on an event that would unify the community and local business.
“This is our thing to give back to the community. We just want people to come out, have fun and enjoy. It was really important coming out of COVID that we did this because it got people out of their basements and their houses and actually get back out and do things again. We just want to kind of build on that momentum,” Lolatte said. “You know, things might not be great in whatever’s going on, but this one day, come on out, enjoy yourself.”
