Food Truck Rally is back

Photo: Carmen Weld

Last October's popular Food Truck Rally is back – and taking over Leon Avenue again Thursday night.

“You wanted it; you’ve got it!” reads the Facebook event page.

The Leon Night Market and Awesome Okanagan are working together to put on Kelowna’s first Food Truck Culture Rally of 2016.

“Kelowna’s hottest food and fashion trucks are back and better than ever, ready to serve the masses what they crave – amazing street food and one-of-a-kind shopping experiences.”

Quinn Best and Emily Braun came up with the idea last year to use an empty lot on Leon Avenue to revitalize that block of downtown Kelowna.

The duo has spent a decade on Leon, operating the music venue Habitat. The neighbourhood means a lot to them. They know Leon is considered a less favourable street, and they're looking to change that perception.

"We got together with some of the local food trucks in town and we rallied them up. We told them: 'Rather than you all be positioned scattered around the city, why not come to one central location and we can make it a big community event where everyone can come celebrate local businesses in the Okanagan?'” Braun said last fall.

The hope is the rally will evolve into a permanent night market, similar to large-scale ones in cities like Richmond.

“We are working with the city to try to see if we can create something called the Leon Night Market. A combination of vendors that are small businesses without a brick and mortar storefront that are looking for a permanent home,” said Quinn in October.

“Most people are trying to move on or get out of downtown, and we actually want to see the downtown grow,” said Quinn.

“This is a personal passion. We want to see the street change, and we know it is possible.”

This month's rally will run on March 24, from 4 to 9 p.m. at 264 Leon Ave.