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BC Halal Food Fest takes over Surrey’s Holland Park

Free two-day event runs from noon to 9 p.m. Saturday (July 8) and Sunday (July 9)
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Thousands of people flooded Holland Park Saturday for the first day of the 2nd annual BC Halal Food Fest.

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.

People could choose from a wide variety of food, from Turkish ice cream to gourmet halal burgers, falafels and more.

A young child watches a performer at the BC Halal Food Fest on July 8, 2023 in Holland Park. Bolow and Abdal Salam were volunteering at the food fest. (Photo: Anna Burns)
A young child watches a performer at the BC Halal Food Fest on July 8, 2023 in Holland Park. Bolow and Abdal Salam were volunteering at the food fest. (Photo: Anna Burns)

Admission is free at the festival, which runs from noon to 9 p.m. Saturday (July 8) and Sunday (July 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.

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.”