Milk Mart didn’t always feature food so heavily, Ashley Hallenbeck, its director, tells me.
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“In the early, much smaller and slower days of the event, we focused on sending all our guests to our brick-and-mortar restaurants and bars, which include cozy dives like Bull & Bush, Sportstown, Whiskey Lou’s, Black Magic Pizza and Gringos Locos, to local beer spots like Sideward Brewing and The Nook, to Michelin-winning locations like Otto’s High Dive and Swine & Sons inside Milkhouse.”
But it’s been an incredible 10 years for this event, which over time has grown to encompass myriad food trucks and tables, loaded down with everything from Florida barbecue to Filipino classics to Phat Ash Bakes‘ cookies.
The beloved cookie company has been a Milk Mart vendor for six years.
“Four times a year since and we haven’t missed one. It’s just awesome. We love it,” says Phat Ash co-owner Israel Arazo.
“We love seeing the wild people come through and as huge as it is, some people still don’t even know it exists,” he says. “We’re so excited to be a part of it and blast our awesome music and create a vibe around our tent. They let us do our thing, and it’s wonderful to be aligned with an event that’s changing the landscape of the Milk District and putting eyeballs on it and feet to street for all the local places there.”
On Sunday, May 31, you can try out Phat Ash Bakes’ goodies, plus lots more, as Milk Mart celebrates this landmark anniversary at the intersection of Bumby Avenue and Robinson Street in Orlando’s Milk District, the ‘hood for which it is named.
For years, Milk Mart has partnered with local vendors and hosted thousands of guests, helping to showcase creative indie art and products in an atmosphere that welcomes everyone — young, old, kids, pets, you name it — and costs nothing to attend. Parking can be tight in this neighborhood (I always manage to find a spot and hoof it in!) but $5 spots are available at Festival Park (2911 E. Robinson St. in Orlando), where free pedicabs will be at the ready to pedal you over to the party.
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“The Moo Crew,” as Hallenbeck calls them, has helped this small event grow into something massive, and “come hungy” is a recommendation that can’t be overstated, as the local-discovery aspect of this event absolutely includes food.
“Catch the latest from the creators of Red Panda Noodle on the Baba Yaga chicken truck for those of you who like it spicy,” Hallenbeck suggests. “Or do a non-alcoholic drink-around-the-block with tons of lemonade, juice, smoothie, coffee, kombucha and matcha vendors.”
Including food, there will be more than 300 vendors at this epic anniversary party, featuring lots of one-of-a-kind art, jewelry, home goods and more, live music, free activities and the chance to get a photo beneath Milk Mart’s iconic inflatable cow.
Milk Mart runs from noon to 6 p.m. and amid the vendors, food and otherwise, there are also more than a dozen brick-and-mortar locals to visit as you wander.
Check out the vendor list at milkmartorlando.com/vendors, and if you’re looking for specifics, search terms such as “vegan,” “gluten-free” and “nut free” to find out which purveyors to put on your list.
Find me on Facebook, TikTok, Twitter or Instagram @amydroo or on the OSFoodie Instagram account @orlando.foodie. Email: [email protected], For more foodie fun, join the Let’s Eat, Orlando Facebook group.
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