Food Truck Events
Food Truck Events in California
Food truck events in California — festivals, weekly spots, brewery rotations, and vendor-friendly markets in Los Angeles, San Francisco, San Diego, and beyond.
Food truck landscape in California
California is the birthplace of the modern food truck movement and still leads the country in food truck density, event quality, and customer sophistication. The challenge is the regulatory environment — LA, SF, and other cities have complex permitting, and competition for premium event slots is intense. But the reward is a customer base that actively seeks out food trucks, spends freely, and shares widely on social media. California trucks that build loyal followings can sustain year-round revenue from a combination of festivals, office parks, and weekly spots.
6 Food Truck Vendor Events in California
Last updated: March 2026Below are 6 active food truck vendor events in California — including festivals, weekly spots, brewery rotations, and vendor-friendly markets. Each listing includes vendor fees, attendance, and application requirements. Updated monthly.
Smorgasburg LA
Los Angeles, CA
Attendance
5,000–10,000/week
Vendor Fee
$400–$900/day (application required, highly competitive)
Schedule
Sundays year-round, 10am–4pm, DTLA
Vendor Requirements
LA County health permit, food handler certification, strong social media presence and concept differentiation reviewed in application
Insider Tip
Smorgasburg LA is one of the most brand-building events on the West Coast. Getting in is hard — most vendors do it for the exposure as much as the revenue. Have a clear visual identity and a hook.
Outside Lands Music Festival Food Trucks
San Francisco, CA
Attendance
220,000 over 3 days
Vendor Fee
$3,000–$8,000+
Schedule
Annual, August, Golden Gate Park
Vendor Requirements
SF health permit, event vendor application (very competitive), high-volume capability required
Insider Tip
Massive volume but extremely competitive selection process. Best suited to trucks that can serve 500+ covers/day. The brand exposure alone justifies the entry cost for many operators.
SoCal Taco Fest
San Diego, CA
Attendance
10,000–15,000
Vendor Fee
$500–$1,500
Schedule
Annual, May, Waterfront Park
Vendor Requirements
San Diego County mobile food facility permit, event vendor application, $1M general liability
Insider Tip
San Diego's food truck market is less saturated than LA. Taco Fest is the signature annual event. Prep-heavy items — birria, lobster tacos, specialty proteins — consistently outperform basic menus.
Modern Times Beer Food Truck Rotation
San Diego, CA
Attendance
200–500/night
Vendor Fee
No fee — food sales retained by truck
Schedule
Thu–Sun evenings, year-round
Vendor Requirements
San Diego County food permit
Insider Tip
San Diego has more craft breweries per capita than almost anywhere. Most actively host food trucks. Modern Times, Stone, and Ballast Point all have strong rotation programs — apply directly.
Off the Grid: Fort Mason
San Francisco, CA
Attendance
3,000–6,000/night
Vendor Fee
15–20% revenue share (no flat fee)
Schedule
Fridays year-round, 5pm–10pm
Vendor Requirements
SF health permit, Off the Grid vendor application and curation review
Insider Tip
Off the Grid is a platform that manages weekly markets across the Bay Area. Apply to their general roster — they'll match you to events. Revenue share model means low risk with high upside on busy nights.
Sacramento Food Truck Fridays
Sacramento, CA
Attendance
1,000–3,000/week
Vendor Fee
$100–$250/week
Schedule
Fridays April–October, 11am–2pm
Vendor Requirements
Sacramento County health permit, city business license, event registration
Insider Tip
Sacramento is often overlooked but has a strong food truck culture and a supportive city government. Lunch spot near the Capitol complex serves government workers — reliable, predictable volume.
Pro tips for food trucks in California
California requires a separate health permit for each county you operate in — there is no statewide mobile food permit. Budget $300–$1,000 per county and plan ahead.
LA permitting is famously complex. Many trucks work with a permit expediter ($300–$600) to avoid months of delays. Worth the cost.
Bay Area rents for commercial kitchens (commissary) run $800–$2,500/month — often higher than trucks in other states. Build commissary costs into your break-even math before choosing a home base.
Running a food truck in California?
Keep customers coming back between events.
Build a loyal following that follows you from event to event. VendorLoop collects subscribers on-site and lets you text your schedule directly to customers who want to find you.
Learn More