DOWNTOWN — The city is reheating its support for food trucks by holding a daylong rally for them Oct. 11 at Daley Plaza.
Eight food trucks will be invited to take part in the Chicago Food Truck Rally from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Beer and wine will be available to diners on the plaza to encourage people to eat from the trucks at both lunch and dinner.
"We are excited to launch this new event that promotes the thriving food-truck industry," said Mayor Rahm Emanuel. "We remain committed to creating the conditions and opportunities that will allow this industry to thrive, create jobs and support a vibrant food culture across Chicago."
The city has licensed 20 trucks to cook onboard this year since the first was approved in January. They join the approximately 100 food trucks licensed to dispense pre-cooked food.
The Food Truck Rally is the marquee event in a month the city is dedicating to food trucks. They'll also be welcomed to Millennium Park as part of Fashion Focus: Chicago's Fashion Week, Oct. 19 and 20; back at Daley Plaza as part of its Halloween events, Oct. 25-27; and to two Chicago Artists Month events: Oct. 19 in Pilsen and Oct. 31 at the Cultural Center Downtown.
Trucks interested in participating will have to cook up their applications on the run, however. The deadline for online applications for the October food-truck events is Tuesday, to be found online on the Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events website.
