Surrey’s Holland Park will host the second annual BC Halal Food Fest in July, in a move from another site in the city.
Last summer’s inaugural festival attracted close to 20,000 people and 30-plus vendors to Surrey Civic Plaza, according to event organizer Yosof Hakimi.
This time around, for two days July 8-9, the goal is for 60-plus food, drink and bazaar vendors to put “a spotlight on the diversity of halal food and cuisines from all around the world,” including Afghanistan, Nigeria, Mexico, France, Kyrgyzstan, Pakistan, India, Palestine, Lebanon, Syria and others.
Admission is free at the festival, to run from noon to 9 p.m. on the weekend of July 8-9. Details are posted on bchalalfoodfest.ca.
It’s all billed as “an Eid celebratory event,” said Hakimi, with sponsors including Muslim Food Bank Community Services in Surrey.
“Besides this,” he said, “the event will be having a cultural bazaar, circus entertainment acts and a kid zone that is filled with inflatables and carnival games.”
Eid-ul Adha is an Islamic holiday. Islamic dietary laws dictate whether food is “halal,” or permissible, with pork among foods not allowed.
With close to 100,000 Muslims living in B.C., the halal food scene has grown tremendously in the last decade, according to a post on the festival website.
Hakimi said the mission of BC Halal Food Fest is “to celebrate the rich cultural heritage and diverse culinary traditions of Halal cuisine, while fostering a sense of community and inclusivity.
“We aim to create an immersive experience that showcases the authentic flavors and dishes of local halal food vendors. We believe that food has the power to bring people together, and we strive to promote the understanding and appreciation of halal food and culture through this festival.”
tom.zillich@surreynowleader.com
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