PARKED! Food Truck Festival
South Street Seaport; 8/20 (10 a.m.–8 p.m); 19 Fulton St., at South St.; 212-732-8257
The meals-on-wheels craze isn’t going away anytime soon—least of all this weekend, when an armada of notable food trucks will brake for their annual riverside convocation. Entering its fifth year, PARKED! now traffics in a Model U.N.’s worth of culinary diversity: Kimchi Taco’s Korean barbecue, Schnitzel & Things’ Teutonic finger foods, Taïm Falafel’s Middle Eastern pockets, Desi’s South Asian delicacies, and Red Hook Lobster Pound’s North Atlantic catches. The free event’s other diversions include live bands and D.J.’s, as well as a beer garden for the adults and a playground for the kids.
Cajun Festival at Hudson Terrace
Hudson Terrace; 8/20 (1 p.m.– 5 p.m); 621 W. 46th St., nr. Eleventh Ave.; 212-315-9400
If you’ve yet to escape the tri-state area this summer, a roof in midtown could make a fine substitute. The first edition of Hudson Terrace’s annual Louisiana-inspired soiree will meld together live jazz, comedy, and a range of the Pelican State’s staple dishes: gumbo, jambalaya, po-boys, and fried pickles (in case anyone forgot). Plus, an open bar serving Abita Beer, specialty cocktails, and Hurricanes will help facilitate the Big Easy–style revelry.
The Trilby BBQ Garden Party
The Trilby, the Cooper Square; 8/27 at 3 p.m.; 25 Cooper Sq., at Bowery; 212-475-3400
One of the alfresco scene’s stronger newcomers, the Trilby, will end the summer as strongly as it started it, with a final installment of its weekly backyard-style fête. Bring your crew early to take full advantage of the in-house set of dominoes and to snag some of their posh, specially priced barbecue ($6–$10)—not to mention a round of sangria, locally brewed suds, or Pimm’s Cups (if not a round of each).
Afro-Punk Festival
Commodore Barry Park; 8/27 and 8/28 at noon; Flatbush Ave., at Navy St., Ft. Greene
End the summer with a proper block party, particularly one made even more proper by live sets from Santigold, Janelle Monae, Cee Lo Green, Toro Y Moi, and Das Racist—just to name a few. There will also be a mobile food court stocked with bites from the likes of Rickshaw Dumpling, NYC Cravings, and Eddie’s Pizza, and refreshing treats from Joyride, Green Pirate Juice Truck, and Cookies ‘n’ Cream, among others.
Brews, Blues, and BBQ
Water Taxi Beach at Governors Island; 9/10 and 9/17 (noon–6 p.m); Governors Island
This day at the beach comes with everything a good beach day should: Joe Vadala & the Jersey Shore Blues filling the air with music, Vanilla Porter and Agave Wheat filling your glasses with beer, and snacks like brats and tacos from Breckenridge Brewery filling your belly.