Last year, the inaugural Halal Festival in Naperville shattered organizers’ expectations.
They anticipated they would have about 3,000 people show up and instead had an estimated 10,000 attendees.
The second annual Halal Fest, presented by the Illinois Muslim Chamber of Commerce in Naperville, will be from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Aug. 3 at Frontier Park in Naperville.
The event showcases the diversity of cuisine, culture and arts within the Muslim community, said Shafeek Abubaker, president of the Illinois Muslim Chamber of Commerce. It is an event to help foster community unity and interfaith dialogue, he said. People can come together and connect over a shared love of delicious food.
Last year’s event was a blast, he said.
“We had about 20 to 25 food vendors and around 40 merchandise vendors,” he said. “We were not expecting that big of a crowd, but our vendors were so accommodating that they tried their best to serve all the people who came. They did a fabulous job. But we were really surprised seeing that big of a crowd. That has to contribute to the great name our city has.”
This year, there will be around 40 food vendors and around 45 merchandise vendors. And the event will start an hour earlier than last year, he said.
“We are bringing in more food options this year — we had long lines last time,” he said. “To take care of that, we are bringing in more food vendors. And we are going to be creating some cultural booths which resemble some of these countries where people are from. So it’s going to bring in some cultural aspects to the setup and arrangement.”
They received so many food and vendor requests they had to turn some away, he said. But he made sure to pick vendors that represented many different cultures and communities and ethnicities, Abubaker said.
“You will see food options from India, Pakistan, Bangladesh and Mexico. You’ll see (food from) Middle Eastern countries, African countries and European countries represented (and) Central-Asian countries like Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan,” he said. “You will experience food which you may not experience in Naperville on a regular basis.”
And because it’s Chicagoland, there will also be burgers and brisket.
“Halal” means “permissible” in Arabic, he said. Halal food, specifically meat, is prepared in accordance with Islamic dietary law. The restaurants showcased at this event will be from different cultures and communities. There are non-Muslims who sell Halal food, too.
“So it’s not just a Muslim event, it’s open for everybody to come and enjoy and experience the cultural differences and make some new friends as well,” he said. “It’s not limited to food. Halal gets associated with food most of the time, but it’s not just about food.”
Vendors will sell perfumes, jewelry, clothing, art, temporary Henna tattoos and other items from around the world, he said.
“We try our best to bring in diversity,” he said.
Business owners, community leaders and other dignitaries will speak in the afternoon. In the evening, there will be music and Middle Eastern folk dancing.
“We will display different ethnic, cultural and art performances,” he said.
As Halal Fest is family-friendly and suitable for all ages, there will be activities for children; including camel rides, balloon twisting, bounce houses, face painting and storytelling, he said.
“It’s a festival for everyone. We invite everyone to come and learn about the Muslim culture in Naperville and beyond and to be a part of the celebration,” he said. “Something you may have to spend thousands of dollars to experience around the world (is) here at your doorstep and you get the opportunity to enjoy here with your family and neighbors. And you may have some of your friends and neighbors who are of the Islamic faith you may meet over there. It is a great opportunity to connect with people and get to know each other.”
Annie Alleman is a freelance reporter for the Naperville Sun.
Naperville Halal Fest
When: 11 a.m.-9 p.m. Aug. 3
Where: Frontier Park, 3380 Cedar Glade Drive, Naperville
Tickets: $5
Information: 630-699-9171; ilmchamber.org
