Nearly 50 food vendors will spice up the lawns of Marston Point in Balboa Park for next week’s San Diego LGBT Pride festival, offering visitors everything from Greek, Thai and Mexican specialties to all-American “fair favorites” such as burgers, dogs and authentic Italian ice.

The festival, scheduled for July 30 and 31, will feature two “food courts” with ample seating, plus several new cart vendors scattered throughout the grounds.

“We have something to tempt everyone’s taste buds, and visitors are free to enjoy their food anywhere inside or outside the festival – under a tree, on the side of a hill or on a friend’s lap,” quips Terry Bishop, festival coordinator for San Diego LGBT Pride.

New to the culinary lineup this year is Tido’s Tiki Shack, a San Diego catering company known for its turkey burgers and peanut butter and jelly sandwiches. Baja Betty’s will make its Pride debut with homemade carnitas tacos garnished with salsa fresca and fresh cilantro, and Capriotti’s Sandwich Shop in Hillcrest hits the scene with various nine-inch submarine sandwiches that will include its famous fresh-roasted turkey. From Arizona comes “tornado taters” topped with chili and cheese, as well as cinnamon-roasted almonds, both available through Pooh’s Kettle Concessions.

In a years-long search for back-East style Italian ice, Bishop happened upon New York City native Pamela Cheong, who recently founded East Coast Italian Ice.

“This is my first outdoor festival for testing out the product in San Diego,” says Cheong. Different from shaved ice, the traditional lemon-flavored treat goes through a process similar to ice cream, where the ice is shaved and flavored, and then frozen in its blended state before being served. Cheong will offer about eight different flavors from her “ice cart.”

A full-service funnel cake “specialist” will also be on site, occupying two booths under the name Dave’s Funnel Cakes & Smoothies.

Yet more novel are the airy fried dough balls available this year through State Fair Mini Donuts. According to the company’s co-owner, Forrest Wicklund, “Every fair and festival in Minnesota served the mini donuts when I lived there. People love them, although they’re hard to find in San Diego.”

The donuts will be cooked to order in soy oil and sold in baker’s dozens.

Returning by popular demand is Big Dick’s Burgers, whose name attracts the eyes and giggles of festival-goers for obvious reasons. Dick’s will also offer hot dogs and nachos.

Other savory vittles include mondo-sized fruits dipped in chocolate by Fashionable Fruits, grilled meats by The Barbecue Pit, fresh corn on the cob by Corn Maiden Foods and Corn Roasters West, non-dairy soft serve by Rollin Softies and sizzling Asian dishes by Siamese Kitchen and Thai & Thai Barbecue.

Adds Bishop: “Look for a variety of food carts along the loop, which we’ve added in addition to the regular vendors. From the carts you’ll find everything from hot dogs, Dove bars and frozen smoothies to churros, cotton candy and energy drinks.”

The grounds will also feature three beer gardens offering several Budweiser products and icy margaritas.

The festival takes place from 12:00 noon to 10:00 p.m., July 30; and from 11:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m., July 31. Admission is $12 per day or $20 for a two-day pass. For more information, call the Pride office at (619) 297-7683, or visit this column online at www.gaylesbiantimes.com for a link to the Pride Web site.