A joint, innovative fundraiser by two Carbon fire companies was deemed a success.

A food truck festival was held in Lansford on Saturday by American Fire Co. No. 1 of Lansford and Nesquehoning Hose Company.

More than a dozen food vendors — no two selling the same foods — participated. Choices included Mexican food, kettle corn, pit barbecue, funnel cakes and the standard fare of burgers and fries. There also was a beverage location, live music and a raffle.

The festival ran for nine hours, and several vendors said they ran out of food before it ended because of the large turnout of people.

Lansford Fire Chief Joe Greco called the event, which is expected to be held annually, was a success.

“It was very well-attended,” he said. “We had a good steady crowd all day. I’m definitely pleased with the support of the (Panther) Valley.”

He said all proceeds benefit the two fire departments.

Greco explained how the idea of a food truck festival came to fruition.

He said the two fire companies “were planning on a joint fundraiser with a band. It was to be held the Saturday before Mother’s Day. We were combining forces because of the lack of volunteers.”

“We were deciding on food, what kind we would have,” he said. “So I thought, why not get food trucks.”

Greco said he was surprised by the variety of food trucks.

He said an example of unusual items that could be purchased is a burger with marshmallow fluff that his son bought from a food truck called Cactus Blue. “I had a taste and it was really good,” he said.

“It was a hard decision determining what I wanted to eat,” he said. “Everything looks so good.”

All the food trucks were locally owned and operated.

There was one called the Suep Kitchen, operated by Sue Smith and her niece, Peyton Burns, of Nesquehoning. She said her father, George Sabol of Nesquehoning, bought the truck two years ago and refinished it, and that this was its first public venture.

One item on the menu was coal crack pho, a Vietnam-inspired chicken dish.

Smith said the Suep Kitchen sold out of 90 percent of its food by 4 p.m., which was four hours before the event ended.

“This food truck festival showed you can get really great food and not drive an hour to do so,” she said, adding that everything she sold, including cupcakes, was homemade.

Nicki Raudavaugh, owner of Nicki’s Eats and Sweets, also of Nesquehoning, said she also sold out and had to make more food three times.

She said this is the first festival for her food truck since she opened a restaurant on East Catawissa Street in Nesquehoning.

Although it was a fundraiser for the Lansford and Nesquehoning Fire Companies, the Parryville Fire Company also made some money with its Dutch Funnel Cake trailer.

Nick and Lisa Mercado of Kunkletown ran Pop Pop’s Kettle Corn stand at the event.

“Things went very well,” Lisa Mercado said. “It was ten times better than expected.

“There was an excellent turnout,” she said. “It was organized very well. We were very pleased.”

She said at one point they ran out of food, and members of the fire department ran an errand to get more for her.