New Kensington’s Fridays on Fifth, Voodoo Brewing gearing up for 5th anniversaries
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A pair of fifth anniversaries will be marked on New Kensington’s Fifth Avenue this year.
Fridays on Fifth, the monthly food truck event that took many by surprise when it debuted in 2021, is preparing for its fifth season. It will be held on the fourth Friday of each month from April through September.
Those dates are April 25, May 23, June 27, July 25, Aug. 22 and Sept. 26. It runs from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. along Fifth Avenue between Ninth and 11th streets.
Voodoo Brewing New Kensington Pub, which will provide music for the event each month, will celebrate its fifth anniversary the weekend of Aug. 22.
Getting food trucks to come to the first Fridays on Fifth in July 2021 was a challenge because it was an unknown, said Nicole Vigilante, a member of the New Kensington Recreation Commission, which sponsors Fridays on Fifth.
But from the start, Fridays on Fifth has drawn large crowds to New Kensington’s downtown, where the event is intended to put a spotlight on the city’s growing business district, many of which stay open late that day.
“Now, we have food trucks reaching out to us that they’ve heard through the grapevine or talking to other food truck operators about what a great event it is that they want to be part of it,” Vigilante said. “Not everyone who applies gets accepted.”
Applications are being accepted from food trucks for the entire season, Vigilante said. Those interested should reach out by email to nkfridaysonfifth@gmail.com. All communication will be done through email, said Vigilante, whose husband, Anthony Vigilante, is involved in organizing the lineup.
Fridays on Fifth has brought a diverse array of cuisine to New Kensington, including barbecue, Mexican, Mediterranean, Italian, Vietnamese and Polish fare.
One food truck operator, Jose Tecuanhuehue, who was among the first year’s vendors, opened a restaurant, Taqueria El Pastorcito, on Fourth Avenue in New Kensington in April 2022. He recently received city and state approval for a liquor license.
Vigilante said they seek to have a variety of trucks each month, with only one of each type of food. While some vendors come every month, it’s mixed up for others — such as, there may be barbecue every month, but not from the same truck, Vigilante said.
“We try to keep a variety, especially barbecue,” she said. “We get a lot of barbecue trucks interested.”
Organizers appreciate when food truck operators, especially those with large followings, promote their attendance at Fridays on Fifth on social media, which brings people to New Kensington who may have never been there before.
“That was our whole idea to begin with,” Vigilante said. “Having grown up here and seen what it was like, and what people in surrounding areas may think of New Kensington, we wanted to break that misconception and invite them down when there’s food trucks, lights, music, people and shops — and ask them to take an honest look at what it’s really like in downtown New Kensington.”
Fridays on Fifth has been “sensational” for the city, Mayor Tom Guzzo said.
“The event itself is great, and the fact that it brings people from New Kensington and from all over the Alle-Kiski Valley together makes it even better,” he said “This has been a great way to showcase all of the progress and exciting new businesses downtown. As we reach our fifth year, I’m confident it will continue to be even more popular and successful as more and more people come to enjoy it.”
This year’s music lineup at Voodoo is Sweetwater Cottage Band in April, Missing Link in May, The Shiners in June, The Alt Rocks in July, MoJo the Band in August and The Knockoffs in September.
Voodoo opened Aug. 21, 2020, and will celebrate its anniversary from that date through Aug. 24. In addition to Mojo the Band for Fridays on Fifth, Ridgemont High 80s Band will play there from 7 to 10 p.m. on Aug. 23.
“Voodoo continues to be an amazing business for our downtown,” Guzzo said. “They have been an excellent community partner and have contributed greatly by having a fun and unique style that brings so many people to downtown for their events.”
In addition to the bands, the brewery will have special offers and some surprises for its anniversary, with more details being released closer to that weekend, operations manager Michelle Thom said.
“Since opening in 2020, Voodoo has focused on providing a community-friendly space, while hosting numerous free monthly events and musical acts, and providing a space for local nonprofits to fundraise,” Thom said. “We have a strong belief that craft beer without community is just beer.”