Local fans of food trucks will have a lot to look forward to in coming weeks. 

Members of the Cumming City Council voted 4-0, with Councilman Lewis Ledbetter absent, to host Food Truck Fridays on School Street in downtown Cumming starting on May 4. The event should not be confused with the city’s new Fridays at the Fairgrounds events, which will be held on the third Friday of each month. 

“[We] came up with idea … to close down School Street in front of the Playhouse,” said Mayor Troy Brumbalow. “[The event will] have food trucks on School Street, and either get a live band or a DJ or something.”

Along with events hosted by the city, the Cumming-Forsyth County Chamber of Commerce will host the Food Trucks ‘n FoCo at the Forsyth Conference Center at Lanier Technical College.

During the Food Truck Friday events, members of the Sawnee Arts Association also plan have vendor spaces during the event, which members of the council also approved moving ahead to be leased by the arts group.

The event is planned to have three entrée trucks and a dessert truck. 

“This is one of those I’d just like to try and see how it runs,” Brumbalow said.

Brumbalow said city officials would likely work with Forsyth County officials to put new benches in the area. He said the city already had three individuals willing to donate the funds for the benches.

“I think that we can probably get all that … at no cost to the city,” he said. 

Councilman Christopher Light brought up potentially switching which day the event is held to not create confusion with Fridays at the Fairgrounds, which will be larger than the other food truck event. The first Fridays at the Fairgrounds is 6 to 10 p.m. on April 20 at the Cumming Fairgrounds.

“I think our Fridays at the Fairgrounds is going to be huge,” Light said. “I’m wondering if we shouldn’t do this on another night, a Thursday or something.”

The council decided to keep the events on Friday. 

Along with food trucks, Fridays at the Fairgrounds will feature live music, classic cars, hot air balloon rides and inflatables. The events are $5 for admission for those 13 and over and free for those 12 and younger.

One significant difference in the two is beer and wine will be sold at Fridays at the Fairgrounds, while alcohol will be prohibited at Food Truck Fridays.

Fairgrounds Administrator Tracy Helms said there were similar concerns for owners of the food trucks.

“[The organizer] does have some concerns you’ve already had,” Helms said. “One of the things she did mention as well, is depending on how this first event does, they have a $500 or $600 cost just to pull out of the driveway, and her concern is being able to get that money back. They have to bring in $750-$800 just to make money.”

Helms said other cities have agreed to cover the remainder if that amount is not reached, which city of Cumming officials were not interested in. 

“She said she’s willing to try it the first time, then she’s getting feedback from the food trucks,” Helms said. “She’s not concerned about Friday at the Fairgrounds because there’s other things to draw [attendees.]”