Experience Minnesota’s Inaugural Native American Food Truck Festival: A Celebration of Culture and Cuisine!

Minnesota is hosting its first-ever Native American Food Truck Festival on Saturday, July 5, at Harriet Island Regional Park. From 11 a.m. to 7 p.m., over 20 Native-owned food trucks will offer both traditional and modern Indigenous dishes. Additionally, there will be around 30 Native resource vendors, artists, and entrepreneurs present.

This event is organized by Trickster Tacos, Steven D’s, Blue Hummingbird Woman, and Niniijaanis One of Ones. There will also be live performances, featuring local artists like Pretendians Band and comedian Deanna StandingCloud.

Mariah Grant, co-owner of Trickster Tacos, came up with the festival idea last fall while planning a celebration for her business’s fifth anniversary. She aims to shine a light on the growing Indigenous food scene in the Twin Cities. “Not many people know there are so many Native food trucks here,” she shared. “Many think of Native food as just decolonized dishes. This event will showcase what Native cuisine truly is.”

Accessibility is a big part of the festival. Grant chose Harriet Island for its convenient bus access. Plus, attendance is free, aiming to make it open to everyone. “We want to reach our Native community and also the urban Twin Cities residents, many of whom are lower-income,” Grant explained.

Her vision is for people of all backgrounds—Indigenous or not—to come and celebrate. “The Twin Cities are so multicultural, and this festival reflects that,” she said. “A lot of our food trucks have biracial owners, which we want to highlight.”

Grant is hopeful that attendees will enjoy the event and that food truck owners will gain more recognition for their modern Indigenous offerings. She sees this as a starting point for more community events in the future. “I just hope everyone has a great day,” she added. “We want to create a ripple effect—one event leading to another.”

Here’s a sneak peek at the food trucks you’ll find:

• Trickster Tacos
• Steven D’s
• Wanna Wotapi
• Frybread Factory
• Wacky Wing Wagon
• Flores DeMiel
• Pow Wow Grounds
• Aunties & Uncle’s Snack Shack
• The Slush Lab
• Wild Harvest Lemonade
• Indigenous Food Lab
• Unci’s Prairie Sweets
• OG ZaZa Pizza Trailer
• Chicks on Wheels
• The Big Red Wagon
• B-Lo Zero Sno Cones
• SafesideBBQ
• Tater Tot Temptations
• Mercy’s Tacos (Rapid City, SD)
• Malissa’s Frybread (Rapid City, SD)

Events like this are more than just a feast; they create community connections and celebrate Indigenous culture. According to the National Restaurant Association, food trucks are on the rise, and their popularity highlights the fusion of tradition and modern tastes. This festival is a perfect example of that blend, making it a must-see event!

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