Forest Preserve District of Will County’s Fun & Food Trucks begins on June 24 at Hickory Creek Preserve – LaPorte Road Access in Mokena where the lineup includes Lil’ Deb’s Mobile Eats, Tacos Mario’s and MiaBella’s Wood Fired Pizza. (Anthony Schalk)

Not only will food trucks be at Forest Preserve District of Will County monthly in summer but there also will be entertainment, a bounce house and expanded lawn games.

Food Truck Fridays, which began in 2017, has become Fun & Food Trucks.

“This year we’ve revamped. We’re doing one large event each month instead of one every Friday like we did in some previous summers,” said Jen Guest, who has been recreation coordinator for Forest Preserve District of Will County for approximately a year.

Fun & Food Trucks, which is free to attend and offers food and drink for purchase, is scheduled on June 24 at Hickory Creek Preserve — LaPorte Road Access in Mokena, July 22 at Whalon Lake in Naperville and Aug. 26 at Hammel Woods — Route 59 Access in Shorewood.

“It’s amped up to have a little more fun. We also have a specialty beverage truck at each one selling alcohol,” said Guest of Joliet.

The food trucks scheduled for June 24 are Lil’ Deb’s Mobile Eats, which features Italian cuisine as well as other items from the quick bites hot dog restaurant in Joliet; Tacos Mario’s of Chicago and MiaBella’s Wood Fired Pizza of Herscher; while Hickory Creek Brewing Co. of New Lenox sells specialty beverages.

“We’ve used every single one before. They’re tried-and-true food trucks that we enjoy having out,” said Guest, who started working with Forest Preserve District of Will County in 2006 as an interpreter at Romeoville’s Isle a la Cache Museum, where she later was program coordinator.

Fun & Food Trucks’ first installment includes the Forest Preserve District of Will County debut of Brian Pankey, who also entertains on Aug. 26.

“Brian Pankey is a celebrity juggler. He was on ‘America’s Got Talent’ and he’s been on national television. He juggles all kinds of fun stuff,” said Guest. He auditioned for “America’s Got Talent” in Season 9 in 2014 and Season 16 in 2021.

“We wanted to find some entertainment to add fun to the event, something that all ages can enjoy.”

Bounce City Party Rentals Inc. provides the bounce house, a first for the program, at all three Fun & Food Trucks installments, which also feature additional lawn games, including giant Connect 4 and giant Jenga.

Guitarist Tom Margarites’ Forest Preserve District of Will County debut is on July 22.

“We wanted to have live music at Whalon Lake. It’s such a cool setting. We thought it would be a good vibe to have live music at this one. We haven’t set the music schedule yet but it’s probably going to be light rock,” Guest said.

The food trucks scheduled for July 22 are Grumpy Gaucho, which features Argentine flavors including baked empanadas; Life’s a Slice, which serves pizza, pierogi, walking tacos, Italian beef and hot dogs; and Plainfield’s Rogue Farm to Curbside Kitchen, which sources ingredients from farmer Mike Hufendick.

A Chartered Flight event truck from Joliet’s The Dock at Inwood, home of the Flight Deck margaritas, sells specialty beverages at the second Fun & Food Trucks installment and on Aug. 26.

“I really like these events because they get people out to our preserves that normally wouldn’t come out to a program and maybe even haven’t ever been to the preserves,” Guest said.

“Once they come out, have delicious food and have fun walking around, they end up coming back. It fosters a positive relationship with them. We hope they will come back and recreate again in our preserves.”

The food trucks scheduled for Aug 26 are Tacos Maui of Joliet; Auntie Anne’s, which is known for its fresh-baked pretzels; and New Lenox-based Smokin’ Z BBQ, which specializes in smoked and grilled meats.

“Some trucks are cash only. There’s no ATM onsite so having some cash is good,” Guest said.

Forest Preserve District of Will County giveaways at Fun & Food Trucks include kick sacks at all three events plus reusable metal straws in June, freezable ice packs in July and sports wallets in August.

In addition to June 24, Fun & Food Trucks takes place from 5-8 p.m. on:

July 22: At Whalon Lake, on Royce Road, west of Illinois 53/Bolingbrook Drive, Naperville.

Aug. 26: At Hammel Woods — Route 59 Access, on Illinois 59, north of U.S. 52/Jefferson Street, Shorewood.

When: 5-8 p.m. June 24

Where: Hickory Creek Preserve — LaPorte Road Access, on LaPorte Road, east of Wolf Road, Mokena

Tickets: free; food and drink available for purchase

Information: 815-727-8700; reconnectwithnature.org

Jessi Virtusio is a freelance reporter for the Daily Southtown.