Chicagoland Halal Fest brings globally-inspired food and fun to St. Charles
Food and fun from around the globe descended on St. Charles this weekend for the Chicagoland Halal Fest in St. Charles.
The fourth annual multicultural celebration brought together food, entertainment, entrepreneurship and family fun Saturday and Sunday at the Kane County Fairgrounds.
Organizers estimated about 7,000 people attended the event Saturday. Early thunderstorms slowed attendance to start Sunday, but skies cleared for the afternoon.
The event previously was held in Naperville but moved to the fairgrounds this year to accommodate weekend crowds that had grown to over 20,000 last year.
Volunteer Yusra Hasan of Naperville said she’s helped with the fest since its inception and enjoys being part of the community responsible for its growth.
“The more you get to interact with the community here, you get to see just how kind people can be,” she said.
The event featured more than 120 vendors and authentic halal cuisine from over 15 countries. Offerings ranged from kebabs, shawarma, biryani and hand-pulled Uyghur noodles, to specialty desserts like Turkish ice cream, fresh Yemeni coffee and more.
In addition to food, guests shopped at a marketplace of tents featuring work by global artisans and were able to connect with nonprofit organizations and local businesses.
Other activities included camel and pony rides, a petting zoo, cultural exhibits and inflatables.
rwest@dailyherald.com