There are many reasons to love food trucks. They are a convenient way to encounter new or favorite foods while out and about, at festivals, or during the workday, when the park near busy offices.

But if you don't work in a heavy foot-traffic area, or visit a lot of local festival events, it might seem like a daunting prospect to know where to find them. Not so this weekend, when nearly 50 Connecticut food trucks will converge on the North Haven Fairgrounds for the first annual Connecticut Food Truck Festival, the largest collection of mobile eateries the Nutmeg State has ever seen.

The festival, which is Saturday and Sunday July 19 and 20 from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m., was organized by Rob Craven, who has a hand in the new North Haven Flea and Farmers Market, which also calls the North Haven Fairgrounds home. Admission to the festival is $5, which includes parking. Kids under 17 get in free, but must be accompanied by an adult.

Once inside, you'll have your pick of nearly 50 of the state's finest food trucks offering their most popular foods, many opting to serve smaller versions for a smaller price so you can eat more without breaking your wallet or busting your belt. In addition to the food, there will be live local music and a host of kids'activities, including bounce-houses and inflatable obstacle courses, games, clowns and free face painting.

Cuisine offerings include gourmet baked potatoes, Italian pastries, soulfood, Polish foods, gourmet meatballs, lobster rolls and more.

On the sweet side, there will be Fruit Whirled, a smoothie cart out of New Haven whose blender is powered by a bike; DiSorbo's Italian Bakery of Hamden; and Four Flours Baking Company's Cookie and Chillwich Truck.

Meat lovers will want to visit Vanchetta Rolling Rotisserie from Stamford; The Local Meatball, Fairfield's purveyor of a variety of meats in ball form; Tampa's, serving fried chicken and soulfood; Aurora's Gypsy Cafe from Danbury, offering Middle Eastern, North African and Eastern European food and meats; and LobsterCraft of Norwalk, serving lobster rolls.

Get your starch and cheese fix at The Spud Stud of North Haven, which serves gourmet baked potatoes; The Whey Station from Middletown, offering gourmet grilled cheese and specialty hot dogs; and Pierogies on Wheels of Derby, with authentic Polish foods. Fairfield's The Buzz Truck will be on-site with its locally roasted coffee and snacks.

Some trucks will be at the festival both days; keep your eyes on Facebook for announcements and updates. Saturday attendees receive a $2 pass for admission to Sunday's event.

A portion of the proceeds will be donated to local food banks, so both your heart and your belly will feel good. Come early for the North Haven Flea and Farmers Market, opening at 8 a.m. both days.