Latest news with #HalalFest
Chicago Tribune
31-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Chicago Tribune
Halal Fest expects to bring about 20,000 attendees to Naperville's Frontier Park this weekend
The third annual Halal Fest returns to Naperville's Frontier Park this weekend with Halal dishes from around the globe, artisanal crafts from local businesses, camel rides, and traditional dabke and zaffa dances. Previously known as the Naperville Halal Fest, the Chicagoland Halal Fest will be held from noon to 9 p.m. Saturday and 1 to 8 p.m. Sunday. About 20,000 people are expected to attend this year, according to the Illinois Muslim Chamber of Commerce, which organizes the event. 'Halal is kind of a way of living,' said Shafeek Abubaker, president of Illinois Muslim chamber. 'Halal in literal meaning, it means permissible by God. But when it comes to food, which is what halal is generally connected with, there is a specific way of slaughtering an animal or cooking a food when it comes to the halal regulations.' Last year, the Naperville event attracted 15,000 people, nearly double the 8,000 who attended in its debut year, Abubaker said. Its success may push the organization to move it to the DuPage Event Center and Fairgrounds in Wheaton next year, he said. One reason for the event's appeal, Abubaker said, is the diversity it features. 'What this event does is it brings the different cultures and communities within the Muslim community in Chicagoland together at this event,' he said. 'So we try to showcase different ethnicities, cultures, food and merchandise.' This year the food options will range from Mediterranean by the popular Al Bawadi Grill to Halal burgers from Bumper 2 Burger. Attendees can also find Halal Mexican food at this year's festival, a cuisine that has become more popular in the Muslim community in recent years, according to Abubaker. 'Celebrating the identity, showcasing and supporting small businesses, bringing the community together, allowing people to see the commonalities even when we may look different or pray different — these are the reasons why we do this event,' he said. Abubaker also thinks the festival's welcoming environment helps contribute to its popularity, noting that 20% to 30% of attendees are non-Muslim. This year they also will be featuring vendors and performers from outside of Illinois, including places like Pennsylvania and Indiana. One band he is particularly excited about is the Virginia-based group VADA, he said. 'It's comprised of young artists who are actually first generation kids who grew up in the United States but (are) connected with the music called the Qawwali,' Abubaker said. 'And so that's really popular within the Indo-Pakistani subcontinent culture so we will be showcasing them on Saturday evening.' The Illinois Muslim chamber bills its event as 'the nation's largest halal-themed festival' and says it reflects a growing demand for halal food, products and experiences. Last weekend, the first summer halal food festival was held in Atlanta. Philadelphia's second annual Philly Halal Food Fest in September 2024 drew more than 6,000, and Houston hosted its second annual Texas Halal Fest in December. Abubaker thinks the regulations around halal food is part of what's driving this interest nationwide, with requirements including making sure the animal is healthy at the time of slaughter and ensuring the animal's death is quick and humane. 'Even beyond the religious beliefs, there are a lot of people who are even outside of the Muslim community now starting to like or accept halal food, mainly because of the way the meat is being processed,' he said. Chicagoland Halal Fest is continues as other events in Naperville have been canceled this year. This week, Indian Community Outreach announced that this year's India Day Parade would not be held, a decision made after the organization decided to scale back its day-long celebration due to enhanced safety requirements. The annual Naperville Salute was also canceled this year. Abubaker said that despite the extra burden that comes with some of the enhanced safety measures from the city — like the clear bag policy and use of metal detectors — organizers wanted to carry on because of its popularity. 'The city of Naperville has been very, very supportive and helpful for us all along,' Abubaker said. 'It is for the safety and security of the attendees, as well as the larger community, so we appreciate and we understand that.'
Yahoo
02-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Media Advisory: Muslim Literary Festival Connects Muslim Writers with Editors, Agents, & Advocates
VAUGHAN, Ontario, June 02, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Canada's only literary festival dedicated to Muslim writers is set to return to the Greater Toronto Area on Saturday, June 21, 2025. MLF offers a full day of community networking, industry engagement, talent discovery, and career development, connecting Muslim writers who have long been underrepresented in mainstream publishing with acquiring editors, publishers, and literary agents from all backgrounds. The festival also serves as a vital bridge for Canadian publishing professionals seeking to engage meaningfully with Muslim authors and audiences. With the support of Inspirit Foundation and Canada Summer Jobs as well as sponsors, Simon & Schuster Canada and Halal Fest, MLF aims to help Canadian Muslim writers join a growing movement for diverse, equitable, and inclusive storytelling in the literary world. With a mission rooted in diversity, inclusion, and authentic representation, outside of its annual festival, MLF also supports both emerging and established Muslim writers through year-round curated panels, workshops, and networking spaces designed to foster creative growth and professional development. This year's theme, 'Joyful Narratives & Coexisting Stories,' celebrates the joy found in storytelling, self-discovery, and the writer-reader connection, while honoring the rich, evolving layers of identity that shape and are shaped by every story told. Vaughan Studios & Event Space - 200 Apple Mill Rd (3rd Floor) Saturday, June 21, 2025 from 10:00 a.m. – 5:30 are available here May 1 to June 12 Keynote Speaker: Uzma Jalaluddin is a critically acclaimed, bestselling novelist, playwright, and teacher. She is the author of Detective Aunty, Much Ado About Nada, Three Holidays and a Wedding, Ayesha at Last, and Hana Khan Carries On, which is currently in development for film by Amazon Studios and Mindy Kaling. Poetry Performance and Writing Workshop:Raz Hyder is a Muslim-Canadian-Indo-Caribbean singer/songwriter who has opened for Hasan Minhaj, Mustafa the Poet, Mo Amer, Brother Ali and Shawn Hook. Notable writing and feature collaborations include NARCY, Cat Stevens and Isam B of acclaimed group Outlandish. Abbas Mohamed is a writer, spoken word artist, and community leader. His book, An Opened Heart is a collection of poems chronicling the inner journey of witnessing and giving testimony. Networking and one-on-ones with industry professionals from Simon & Schuster, Transatlantic Agency, CookeMcDermid Literary Management, ECW Press, and more. Media are requested to RSVP to attend the festival. Interviews can be arranged with organizers, speakers, and industry professionals. CONTACT: Contact: Rabeea Saleem - rabeea@ in to access your portfolio
