Independent Operators

Cincy Soul Food Truck Festival cancelled at last minute, impacting operators

Photo: Adobe Stock

July 27, 2026

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The Cincy Soul Food Truck Festival, set to be held from July 24 to 26 in Cincinnati, Ohio, was cancelled at the last minute, directly impacting operators. The festival organizers cancelled the event less than 24 hours before it was set to begin, citing issues with the city, according to a report by WLWT.

The event organizers claim that the city pressured the property owner with fines and a loss of a license to prevent the festival from taking place. City officials argue that the organizers only applied for a special event permit in May 2026, when permits for events in July were due back in February. They also claim that the Cincy Soul Food Truck Festival continued to promote the event despite not having a permit.

"Rules regarding special events, including permitting, exist for a reason," City Manager Sheryl Long said in a statement. "We need to make sure everyone can enjoy what Cincinnati has to offer in a way that's well coordinated with City staff."

Food truck operators, meanwhile, were left with the bill, as most had already purchased inventory expecting a large crowd.

Cincinnati Mayor Aftab Pureval stated he understood this caused a big financial stress on the small businesses, many of whom are Black-owned.

"This is still a serious frustration and a significant financial burden for many Black-owned small businesses who believed this event would happen," Pureval wrote in a statement on social media. "Regardless of blame, it is important that we do what we can to make sure vendors aren't left hurting from the investments they've made in the weekend."