SUBMITTED PHOTO Bumblebee, the popular Autobot from the “Transformers” franchise, will be in Marshalltown on Thursday at HyVee. The character will accompany I Heart Cookies, a traveling cookie food truck.

Cookie fans, roll out.

A popular food truck — I Heart Cookies — is returning to Marshalltown on Thursday. Residents might remember the truck from last year as Crumble & Cream, but the company changed its name on Jan. 1. I Heart Cookies is bringing a special guest this time — Bumblebee, the popular autobot from “Transformers.”

Rachel Marlow, owner of I Heart Cookies, said her company focuses on providing an experience for customers, rather than just culinary delights.

“We want to create more of an event when we visit places,” she said. “We had come across some impressive Transformers costumes, and with the new Transformers movie this summer, it was a good opportunity to provide something unique, something to create that unique experience.”

When the truck is at the Hy-Vee parking lot, it will be easy for drivers to spot Bumblebee. The costume is 10 feet tall and inside is an actor hired by Marlow who will interact with the guests and children. However, the character will not be present the entire eight hours. Marlow said the Autobot will make appearances every other hour.

“I just want to reiterate that Bumblebee will not be out all the time,” she said. “That is important. But we have plenty of staff to make it a well-organized process. Please just respect each other.”

Between interactions and photos with Bumblebee, people will be able to try some new fare offered by the cookie food truck:

• Sugar cookie dippers with buttercream, chocolate, caramel and vanilla glaze dips;

• Reese’s peanut butter chip;

• Cookie Monster;

• Oreo fudge brownie;

• White chocolate butterscotch blondie;

• Gluten-free snickerdoodle cinnamon roll cookies.

The event page on Facebook has almost 150 people who will go visit I Heart Cookies. Last year, Marlow said they received 700 Marshalltown residents. Fortunately, they take care to bake enough cookies to prevent anything from running out.

“We do a good job of keeping our trailers well stocked,” she said. “Our goal is to never run out, even when customers bring family and friends. Nearly 100 percent of the time, we do not sell out.”

After the warm welcome Marlow received last year in Marshalltown, she knew she wanted to return.

“I made it a point of keeping it on our regular route,” she said.

So keep an eye out for I Heart Cookies in 2024.

EVENT DETAILS:

What: I Heart Cookies with Bumblebee

Where: Hy-Vee parking lot, 802 S. Center St.

When: Thursday, noon to 8 p.m.

Bumblebee appearances: 1 p.m. to 1:30 p.m., 3 p.m. to 3:30 p.m., 5 p.m. to 5:30 p.m., 7 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.

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Contact Lana Bradstream at 641-753-6611 ext. 210 or

lbradstream@timesrepublican.com.