GREEN COVE SPRINGS – The highly-anticipated and popular Food Truck Friday returned to Spring Park on March 3.

As the afternoon slowly shifted to night, it was apparent residents were ready to return to lawn chairs, beach towels, blankets, live music, good food and good times with families, friends and neighbors.

Parking lots were filled for blocks, lining areas well beyond the immediate proximity of the park.

Hundreds of attendees enjoyed the community party with a tailgate, festival-style feel further aided by warm and breezy weather, the tempting aurora of smell from food trucks and the soothing sounds of local, live music from Cumberland.

As for the cuisine, a variety of local, national and international genres were created in some of the best food trucks from Northeast Florida.

Vehicles serving up anything from southern, local Cajun and coastal dishes to national and international fare such as Asian, African, Cuban, Southwestern, Italian, Mexican and Venezuelan, and more lined the streets of St. Johns and Magnolia avenues and Walnut Street.

Park-goers gathered in one of two main groups: either in long lines to get a taste of the diverse list of tasty foods trucks or to lay out in a lawn chair or on a blanket to take in the sights and sounds that will return on the first Friday of each month through November.

Still, others wandered around the park with family and friends. Some walked along Public Pier to get a view of the picturesque St. Johns River or the beautiful night stars or to watch children on the playground so the little ones could release some much-needed energy.

Even then, a large conglomerate of attendees commuted to the event via golf cart, creating an especially unique tailgate-style atmosphere near Roger That Wings and Things to the pier.

Food options featured arepas and cachapas (a fluffy corn pancake filled with freshly-cut cheese, succulent pork, chicken or other goodies) from El Chamo Criollo’s (Venezuelan). Tacos and plates piled high with meat and other fixings came from Twisted Okie (Southwestern).

Options also included hot, freshly-cooked breakfast options like biscuits and gravy from Village Bread Cafe (American) to chicken teriyaki and rice and noodles from Hit The Spot Asian Street Food.

To get a true feel for the small-town, homey and atmosphere created in Green Cove Springs through the event under the beautiful oak trees and Spanish, you’ll have to see it for yourself. You can catch the next Food Truck Friday, April 7, featuring entertainment from Big Engine.