Director Ashley Hallenbeck said Milk Mart didn’t always feature food so heavily.
“In the earlier, much smaller, slower days of the event, we focused on sending all of our guests to brick-and-mortar restaurants and bars, including cozy dives like Bull & Bush, Sportstown, Whiskey Lou’s, Black Magic Pizza and Gringos Locos, local beer spots like Sideward Brewing and The Nook, and Michelin-winning outlets like Otto’s High Dive and Swain & Sons inside the Milk House.”
But it’s been an incredible decade for the event, which over time has grown to encompass countless food trucks and tables loaded with everything from Florida barbecue to Filipino classics to Fat Ash Bakes cookies.
The beloved cookie company has been a vendor at Milk Mart for six years.
“We’ve had it four times a year since then and we’ve never missed one. It’s really great. We love it,” says Fat Ash co-owner Israel Alazo.
“We love to see wild people coming in, and despite their enormity, some still don’t even know they exist,” he says. “We’re really excited to be a part of it and play some great music and create an atmosphere around the tent. They let us do what we had to do. It’s great to be able to collaborate on an event that changes the landscape of the Milk District and brings attention to all the local places out there and brings foot traffic to the streets.”
On Sunday, May 31st, Milk Mart will be celebrating this milestone anniversary at the intersection of Bumby Avenue and Robinson Street in Orlando’s Milk District, where you can sample Fat Ash Bakes goodies and more.
For years, Milk Mart has partnered with local vendors and welcomed thousands of guests to help showcase creative indie art and products in a welcoming atmosphere for everyone, young and old, children and pets, and there is no cost to attend. Parking in this neighborhood can be tight (I always manage to find a spot!), but $5 parking is available at Festival Park (2911 E. Robinson St. in Orlando). Free human-powered taxis will be waiting there to pedal to your party.
The “Moo Crew,” as Hallenbeck calls it, helped grow this small event into something large. The local discovery aspect of this event absolutely includes food, so the recommendation to “come hungry” cannot be overstated.
“If you like spicy food, check out the latest from the creators of Red Panda Noodles at Baba Yaga Chicken Truck,” suggests Hallenbeck. “Alternatively, you can sip non-alcoholic drinks at one of our many lemonade, juice, smoothie, coffee, kombucha and matcha shops.”
This grand anniversary party will feature more than 300 vendors including food, unique art, jewelry, home goods and more, live music, free activities and a photo opportunity under Milk Mart’s iconic inflatable cow.
Milk Mart is open from noon to 6 p.m., and there are more than a dozen brick-and-mortar locals you can visit as you stroll along, among the shops, food, and more.
Check out our list of vendors at Milkmartorlando.com/vendors and if you’re interested in learning more, search for terms like “vegan,” “gluten-free,” and “nut-free” to find vendors to list.
Find me on Facebook, TikTok, Twitter, Instagram @amydroo or the OSFoodie Instagram account @orlando.foodie. Email: amthompson@orlandosentinel.com, and for more foodie fun, join our Let’s Eat, Orlando Facebook group.
