DeKalb’s first October weekend has a straightforward answer to the familiar question of where to eat, sip and linger: three days of food truck events at Whiskey Acres, each with a different reason to make the trip.

From October 2–4, the distillery’s lineup moves from Friday comfort food and live music to a Saturday artisan market, then wraps up with a Sunday afternoon pairing of tacos and guitar-driven entertainment.

All three take place at 11504 Keslinger Road in DeKalb, making this a choose-your-day weekend rather than a complicated tour around the county.

Friday: dinner with a soundtrack

Friday, October 2, brings Ethan Larson, Le Truff Noir and Strike the Box together from 5–8 p.m.

Larson’s repertoire spans rock and country across several decades, with original songs mixed into the familiar material.

Le Truff Noir supplies the food, with a comfort-food focus that gives the evening a dinner component alongside the music and spirits.

Strike the Box, from New Milford, will also bring cigars and accessories, so keep that part of the program in mind when deciding whether Friday is your preferred outing.

For readers looking to replace another evening of takeout with something social, this is the most obvious after-work option of the three.

The listing does not specify admission charges or food prices, so check those details before treating it as a fixed-budget dinner plan.

Saturday: the biggest spread of the weekend

The Fall Artisan Market runs Saturday, October 3, from 10 a.m.–3 p.m., with free admission and a family-friendly format.

Local vendors join three food trucks—Girls Got Balls, Dark Horse Grill & Catering and Rent A Chef—giving shoppers several places to turn when browsing becomes lunch.

Girls Got Balls describes its offerings as gluten-free, with items including arancini and loaded fries, while Rent A Chef’s lineup includes barbecue meats and macaroni and cheese.

Those descriptions give you a sense of the vendors’ specialties, rather than a guarantee that every item will appear on Saturday’s menu.

Music from Tyler Smith and Milkman’s Kids adds another reason to take your time instead of making a quick shopping stop.

Cocktails will be served from three walk-up bars, but free entry does not mean free food or drinks.

The market ends at 3 p.m.; the distillery remains open until 8:30 p.m., with tours listed at 2, 4 and 6 p.m.

That distinction matters if your main goal is shopping: an evening visit will miss the market itself.

Sunday: tacos, then a slower afternoon

Sunday, October 4, pairs Tamales Los Girasoles with musician Cole Brandt.

The Malta-based food vendor is scheduled from 2–5 p.m., with offerings described as ranging from tacos to birria pizza.

Brandt’s performance runs from 2:30–5 p.m., drawing on jazz, rock and electronic dance music.

Arrive near the start of the food window if you want time to eat before the music begins, rather than squeezing everything into the final half-hour.

Pick the outing that fits

Friday suits an evening meal, Saturday offers the broadest combination of shopping and food, and Sunday is the shorter afternoon option.

All times here are local to DeKalb, and vendor menus, pricing and arrangements should be checked with the organizer before you leave.

Bring an appetite, choose your day, and give the weekend a little more personality than another debate over what is in the refrigerator.

Plan your visit

Friday: food, music and cigar night

Saturday: Fall Artisan Market

Sunday: Tamales Los Girasoles and Cole Brandt

Directions to Whiskey Acres