May 02, 2024| Community, Events
By: Caitlin Doran
Every year, the Lake Hopatcong Block Party fills up with an amazing 200+ vendors. These are businesses, organizations, and crafters, ready to provide us with information and unique items for purchase, while we stroll through and enjoy the event. And the place you want to be at the Block Party is none other than the food court, where food vendors are serving up some delicious offerings.
As in past years, our food court boasts a bevy of local food trucks and restaurants. Some of these food vendors will be familiar to you as fan favorites that return year after year, while some are brand new. We can’t wait to try them all with you on May 18! Be sure to check out the following at this year’s Block Party:
Angry Archie’s – Established in 2015 by Chef Chris Curado and his cousin Michael Ponte, Angry Archies is an award-winning food truck that features seafood staples like Maine lobster rolls, lobster mac ‘n’ cheese, crab poutine, and crab cake sandwiches. Non seafood dishes, like the “Angry Chicken Sandwich” and “Baja Veggie Burger,” and sides, are also available.
Camille’s Cookie Café – Let’s welcome hometown cookie baker, Camille, and Camille’s Cookie Café, bringing artisanal-style cookies to the event, baked from scratch (with love!) from family recipes.
Chow Wow Food Truck – New to the Block Party, Chow Wow food truck offers “some of your favorite foods with an updated flavor that you’ll find wonderful and surprising.” We invite you to give their Asian Fusion options – like Korean tacos, Korean corn dogs, and Chow Wow Dumplings – a try!
Cosmic Kettle Corn - This freshly made kettle corn must be tried to be believed! The perfect snack to munch on as you walk the Block Party!
Dunkin – Our friend Patty Babb is back and will be setting up shop by the Pavilion, bringing coffee, donuts, and more for everyone to enjoy (the early morning volunteers are always especially happy to see Patty and her staff pull in!).
Empanada Lady – “Gotta blame the 2009 recession for Empanada Lady’s success,” Cyndi explains on her website. She put herself through culinary school and has been selling delicious empanadas at farmers markets and festivals in New Jerseys and New York ever since!
Homemade Confections – We’re excited to welcome back this Sparta-based baking operation and their delicious cupcakes, cookies, and cereal treats - sure to slake your sweet tooth!
House of Cupcakes – their cupcake recipes come from Ruthie and Ron Bzdewka, winners of Food Network’s Cupcake Wars. They offer 35 flavors of cupcakes, as well as other sweet indulgences, and we can’t wait to welcome them to the Block Party for the first time!
Jersey Pickles – Welcome back, Jersey Pickles! Hailing from Teaneck, Jersey Pickle’s got salty, sweet, and savory pickles on hand to satisfy your cravings!
Knot of This World Pretzels – You gotta try their fresh, hand-twisted, soft pretzels! You won’t be disappointed!
Rita’s Italian Ice and Custard – Nothing says summer like a frozen treat from Rita’s! According to their website, at Rita’s, “Ice Custard Happiness is our way of life. We’re passionate about delivering super-friendly guest service and providing our guests with a cool, smooth, delightfully happy treat experience.
Smokin Schmidty’s BBQ – Veteran-owned Smokin Schmidty’s is doing what they do best: great barbeque. Try their famous pulled pork sliders, sausage, pepper, and onion sandwiches, baked beans, and pickles!
Succasunna United Methodist Church – not your typical food stand, SUMC is joining us from Main Street in Succasunna, to connect with the community and serve up walking street tacos! Yum!
The Grotto – Hopatcong’s oldest pizzeria will be at the Block Party, dishing out slices of its delicious pizza pie. Give them a try! If you like them (and we think you will), they’re right up the road in River Styx, where they also serve sandwiches and pasta dishes.
The Hot Dog House - The Hot Dog House – if you’re looking for a good old-fashioned hot dog cart serving up hot dogs, kielbasa, bubble lemonade and orangeade, look no further!
So Tealishious – According to So Tealishious, they were founded in 2019 to bring awareness to the lasting impact tea has on our wellness. They’ll be offering many prepackaged blends as well as ready-to-drink iced tea. Welcome, So Tealishious!
Totally Nutz - Totally Nutz will be back this year, fresh roasting cinnamon-glazed nuts on site. It’s worth visiting them for the aroma alone!
We Squeeze to Please – Beyond refreshing, freshly-squeezed lemonade and brewed iced tea, they have funnel cakes, nachos, steak sandwiches, tots, churros – the list goes on!
A quick shoutout, also, to Jefferson Dairy, who will be serving up some sweet creamy treats to keep us cool and providing free ice cream cone coupons for our children’s scavenger hunt. The first 200 kids who complete the hunt will be rewarded with a coupon for a free cone for their next trip to Jefferson Dairy!
So, come hungry to the 2024 Lake Hopatcong Block Party and prepare to leave happy! Thank you to the above food vendors and all the vendors joining us on May 18!
