Whether it’s sipping on a sweet agua fresca, munching on smoky roasted corn, or chowing down on a juicy burger and crisp fries, Lompoc residents can find a variety of goodies at the city’s new Food Truck Collective.
“This is a great opportunity for families to come out to experience some of the wonderful food trucks in Lompoc,” Lompoc Parks and Recreation Division Recreation Supervisor Chad Dawson said in a statement.
The collective came to be after Lompoc food truck operators approached the city in the last two months, asking for a more centralized location to serve up their grub. When the operation is more visible, it’s easier to draw people into their business, Dawson told the Sun. In response, the city opened its lot on Ocean Avenue to the vendors every Friday from 3 to 8 p.m. since its launch on Nov. 22.
With the holiday season in full force, it’s tough to say how many vendors are participating in the Food Truck Collective and how many people are in attendance.
“It’s hit or miss right now,” Dawson said. “I think after the first of the year, the numbers will solidify, and we’ll have a better idea as to how many [participants there are].”
Food truck operators need to have their licenses, certifications, and permits in order and be in compliance with city regulations in order to participate. Dawson estimated that there’s about 30 legal food truck operations in the city, and there’s double the amount of unpermitted food trucks.
Lompoc also welcomes permitted food trucks to its outdoor market, which takes place every Saturday from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Unlike a farmers market, the outdoor market only has one produce stand, and vendors sell baked goods, flowers, crafts, toys, and clothing to residents who stop by. Lompoc doesn’t have a farmers market at this time because its licensing and requirements are tricky, according to Daqwson. The closest farmers market takes place in the Vandenberg Village.
The Food Truck Collective brings another family-friendly activity to the otherwise quiet city. Eventually, Dawson said, he’d like to add pop-up tents and entertainment to once a month to enhance the visitor experience.
“I think it will really benefit the community to have one place where they know they can go and get all the different kinds of food they want,” Dawson said. “I think it will turn into a really nice family outing, family activity. They’ll like the consistency of it.”
The Food Truck Collective sits at 200 W. Ocean Ave. Vendors interested in participating have to pay a $30 fee, with a discount offered when registering for four consecutive weeks. Vendors can direct questions to (805) 875-8100 during business hours.
Highlights
• The Lompoc Parks and Recreation Division invites the community to sign up for its 5K Resolution Run. The Jan. 1 event is open to people older than 5 years old and all ability levels. Check-in begins at 8 a.m. and the run starts at 9 a.m. on the River Park Trail. Children ages 5 to 7 will run a 1K, and people 8 and older will run a 5K. First and second place winners will be awarded in each age group. People interested can register at cityoflompoc.com/recreation and will pay a $20 registration fee per athlete for the 1K and $30 for the 5K. Registration ends Dec. 31 at 5 p.m. Call (805)-875-8100 for more information.
• The Santa Barbara Foundation announced that it awarded nearly $610,000 in grants to 26 nonprofits across Santa Barbara County for their work in conservation, environment, and public trails (CEPT). The CEPT grant program launched in 2021 and awarded $222,000 in grants to 10 organizations. Since then, the foundation’s contributions have increased, to $440,000 in 2022 and more than $514,000 in 2023. The Hollis Norris fund made this grant possible and aligns with the foundation’s long history of supporting environmental conservation and restoration projects. This year’s recipients support a wide range of efforts, from preserving and expanding pollinator habitats in Carpinteria to rehabilitating fire- and storm-damaged trails in the Santa Ynez Valley, Lompoc, and Figueroa Mountain areas.
Reach Staff Writer Taylor O’Connor at toconnor@santamariasun.com.
This article appears in Dec 26, 2024 – Jan 5, 2025.