California’s First 'Halal Fest' Coming to Newark in August

Celebrate Muslim culture at the state’s first Halal Food and Eid Festival — taking place next month in Newark. 

To be held Aug. 17 at NewPark Mall, the free event places cuisine on center stage with a variety of foods from around the world including Middle Eastern, Arabic, Mediterranean and South Asian fare.

Similar to kosher food in Jewish culture, Halal foods are meat dishes that have been blessed and are considered pure for Muslims to eat, according to the Halal Fest website.

The food festival will feature a live cooking demo, halal food vendors, children’s activities and a bazaar with clothing, jewelry, crafts, toys and art for sale.

Among the halal food vendors confirmed for the event are Chutney Mary’s, an Indian-American fusion food truck; New Africa Kitchen, which serves up southern fried chicken, hot links, sweet tea and more; Sunrise Deli, a San Francisco and Berkeley-based Middle Eastern restaurant; and RajaBelle’s Cupcakes, among others. 

Hosted by Jam Productions and Illume Media, the event will also highlight American Muslims in the Tri-City area such as former pro skater Jordan Richter, who will lead a skate demonstration. There will also be a chess tournament led by Adisa Banjoko and the Hip-Hop Chess Federation.

Those interested in sponsoring or vending at the Halal Fest can contact info@halafest.com.

For additional info, visit www.halalfest.com.