WORCESTER, Mass. — After skipping a year due to COVID-19, the third-annual Worcester Food Truck Throwdown and Craft Fair returned to Beaver Brook Park.

Hundreds of people made their way into the park for the five-hour long festival, which is run by organizer Mark Gallant, who also operates WooTruck, a division of Dogfather Vending.

“It’s fantastic,” Gallant said. “It’s great to be back out.”

The festival included two sets of voting — one to decide the “people’s choice,” and one for judges, who were kept secret. There were 20 food trucks for people to vote on, ranging from Indian cuisine to fresh pressed juice, and hot dogs to kettle corn.

Say Cheese’s grilled cheese. Photo by Monica Sager.

The Say Cheese grilled cheese truck won the People’s Choice award. The truck is a fan favorite, having taken home the same award for the past three years.

Off the Hook won the judge’s votes with its New England-style seafood and other gourmet fish dishes. It was the truck’s first year competing in the competition, according to Gallant.

Get Baked Potato Company, which specializes in baked potatoes topped in choices of meats and other fresh toppings, won second place for both the people and judges’ choices. Gallant noted that the Northbridge-based truck wasn’t in existence during the last Worcester food truck competition.

The Japanese-inspired Nom Nom Hut truck came in third for the “People’s Choice,” and Birds Nest Italian Street Food received the judge’s third place honor.

Cameron Maillet and Jennifer Cockshaw were walking around the event together, trying food and rating the vendors based on their taste, wait time and cleanliness, among other factors.

Shabby Gourmet Juices.

Maillet had just tried Trolley Dog, which serves a variety of all-beef hot dogs, including California, Tex-Mex and New Yorker offerings. Cockshaw said her favorite at the time was fried mac and cheese from Moe’s Street Eats, which is the epitome of carnival food with fried oreos and fried dough as well.

“It’s awesome. The past year, being stuck inside and stuff,” Maillet said, “this is great.”

The rest of the event at Beaver Brook allowed for people to explore vendors along the walkway throughout the park. Businesses like Worcester Animal Rescue League and The Flower Box had tables, with others selling hand-knitted scarves, soaps, paintings and pottery.

Wild Roots Plant Truck was also in attendance, selling plants from their truck and gaining a lot of attention from passersby.

COVID-19 vaccinations were also available for attendees to receive.

Families were able to sit on the grass or at picnic tables set up around the park and playground. And, like any good festival, plenty of dogs in attendance too.