Downtown Dayton’s food truck scene turns its attention to mac and cheese this week. The Dayton Mac and Cheese Fest runs Friday, July 24, from 5 to 10 p.m. at The Brightside Music and Events Center, 905 E. Third St. in Dayton. Entry is free.
The festival is presented by State Farm and organized by the team behind the Dayton Food Truck Rallies, a series that has run seasonal, themed food truck events in downtown Dayton for 13 years. Friday’s event is built around one theme: mac and cheese, served alongside each truck’s regular menu.
The Vendor Lineup
Fourteen food trucks and vendors are scheduled to serve mac and cheese and other items Friday, according to the event’s Facebook page:
- D’s Birria and More
- Smokin’ Double D’s
- Red Berry
- Home Cooked Vibes
- MamaBear’s Mac
- Let’s Eat Food Truck
- Dirty Chicken
- Steak It Eazy
- FirstBite Catering
- Cruisin Cuisine
- Boss Hogg’s BBQ
- El Beuno Taco
- Little Boijon
- Little Trolley Donuts
- Raegan’s Legacy Dog Bakery
Organizers note the lineup is subject to change, so a truck listed here isn’t guaranteed to show up. Pricing is set by each vendor individually rather than through the festival, so families should expect to pay per item at each truck.
Good to Know
The event is billed as family friendly, and entry has no cost. The Brightside’s beer garden patio and indoor seating will both be open during the festival for anyone who wants to sit down between trucks.
The Brightside sits inside Dayton’s Designated Outdoor Refreshment Area, meaning visitors can carry a drink purchased on-site while walking around the surrounding Oregon District and toward the Levitt Pavilion. Free street parking and nearby pay lots are both available close to the venue, according to the organizer’s website.
Part of a Recurring Series
The Mac and Cheese Fest is one of several themed food truck events the organizers run each year at The Brightside and at Front Street Studios, including past burger and taco-themed festivals. A Dayton Taco Fest is already scheduled to follow at The Brightside on Friday, Aug. 14, from 5 to 10 p.m.
Families looking for more free things to do in Cincinnati and Dayton can find additional options, and the Dayton Food Truck Rallies’ full schedule is posted on their official website.
Plan Your Visit
- What: Dayton Mac and Cheese Fest 2026
- When: Friday, July 24, 5 to 10 p.m.
- Where: The Brightside Music and Events Center, 905 E. Third St., Dayton, OH 45402
- Cost: Free admission; food and drinks purchased separately from individual vendors
- More information: daytonfoodtruckrallies.com
