Guests gather in a hotel ballroom around a purple Grand Tasting Alpharetta welcome sign. — Guests gather around the welcome sign for Grand Tasting Alpharetta, one of two major food events scheduled Thursday night in Alpharetta.

Food Truck Alley returns downtown while Grand Tasting Alpharetta brings more than 25 restaurants under one roof at Avalon.

Alpharetta diners face an unusually tempting choice Thursday night: casual street food and live music downtown, or an all-inclusive tasting event at Avalon.

Food Truck Alley returns to Old Roswell Street from 5 to 9 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 27. More than 10 food trucks are expected, offering a rotating mix of cuisines alongside live music.

The event is family-friendly, but seating is limited. Organizers recommend bringing a chair or blanket and leaving pets at home.

Old Roswell Street and the adjacent parking lot will close at 1 p.m. Thursday. Public parking is available in the decks at 92 Milton Ave. and 2 Park Plaza. Food Truck Alley details.

A few miles away, Grand Tasting Alpharetta runs from 6 to 10 p.m. inside The Hotel at Avalon.

The 21-and-older event includes unlimited tastings from more than 25 restaurants, along with cocktails and live music from Bogey and the Viceroy. Participating businesses include Foundation Social Eatery, Jang Su Jang, Nahm Fine Thai Cuisine, Colletta, Oak Steakhouse, Superica, Fogón and Lions and One Day in Paris.

Admission requires a ticket and valid identification. The event does not offer refunds or exchanges. Grand Tasting tickets and restaurant lineup.

Weather could give the two events very different experiences. Grand Tasting is indoors, while Food Truck Alley may contend with thunderstorms and locally heavy rain. The National Weather Service says repeated storms Thursday could produce localized flooding in North Georgia, so downtown visitors should check for an organizer update before leaving. Current weather outlook.