The Trials of Outing #3: Power Problems & a Pizza Sellout!

Our third food trailer event took us to the Best of Clinton County Festival in Downtown Lock Haven. The trailer was stocked, the weather was decent, and we were parked right on Main Street—one of the only food trailers there. We were feeling optimistic.

We got everything set up and ready to roll… just needed power. We plugged into a light pole outlet (yeah, that should’ve been our first clue), and—poof—tripped the breaker. No power.

Enter Mom, hero of the day. She headed straight to Harbor Freight to grab the generator we had planned to buy anyway (we needed something quieter than the beast from last week). My youngest met her there, loaded it up, and brought it to town.

The boys—my oldest and youngest—worked together to get it ready, fired it up… and then? Still no power. The trailer plug tripped the new generator too.

Ty (youngest and MVP runner of the day) was off to Lowe’s for extension cords, power strips, and a fan because—of course—it was hot. $250 later, we were back to troubleshooting. Eventually, with cords running every which way, the trailer was powered up and we were back in business.

Because you know—the show must go on… and besides, we literally couldn’t leave (blocked in on all sides).

After a chaotic start, the day turned around: we sold pizza, poured bubble tea and lemonade, and sold out of pizza with about an hour and a half left to go!

Team effort all around:

• Ty ran logistics like a champ—errand runner, generator wrangler, and extension cord savior

• Kobe (the oldest) worked the window, poured drinks like a pro, and handled setup and driving duty

• Mom helped sling pizzas and tackle the messes

• Jeff (the husband) made it just in time for the heavy lifting—even while singlehandedly running a post office. Neither rain, nor lack of employees, nor sourdough could stop him. 

It was an eventful but successful day. Next up: the Hope 4 Hayze Rodeo in Mill Hall… unless we find another stop before then.

P.S. Apparel 212 is still hanging in there, but it’s been a slow season. Might be time to start printing food trailer tees at this rate…

Here’s to outlets that work and pizza that sells out,
Stacy