AMHERST – Food trucks are a phenomenon in cities around the country, with a huge variety of gourmet and ethnic dishes offered at these mobile restaurants.

But they’ve been slow to reach this area. Amherst has the Grazing Gourmet on Route 101A, and there are a couple of trucks in Nashua, according to the Roaming Hunger blog.

But on Saturday, June 24, the trend will come here in a big way.

About 14 trucks will be at the Amherst Garden Center and Farm to Market from 11 a.m.-6 p.m. for the first Amherst NH Food Truck Festival.

There will be familiar foods, such as burgers and onion rings from the Somerset Grille, or more exotic fare, such as beef empanada from Pomaire Boston Chilean. There will be no shortage of sweets, with Tracy Girl selling homemade waffles and ice cream and Aunties Sweet Shop’s all-natural candies.

The event is being organized by Timothy M. McGibbon, a real estate agent with The Leva Group, Waterfield Sotheby’s International Realty.

McGibbon is a friend of John Cochran, owner of the garden center.

“John and I came up with the idea over this past winter,” McGibbon said. “We wanted to organize an event for the town of Amherst and the surrounding communities. We both have a passion for food and community, and this was a perfect fit.”

There will be continuous music from live bands, including the Cow Hampshire Folk, Big DJ Jr. & the Low Tone and The Wicked Lost Souls.

Tickets are $5 in advance online and $10 at the event. Kids 12 and younger and veterans can enter for free.

The event is rain or shine. It is sponsored by the Amherst Garden Center, The Leva Group, Healy Tree Services and RMS Mortgage.

Kathy Cleveland can be reached at 673-3100 or kcleveland@cabinet.com.