Fun feast Festival celebrates local food, craft and entertainment By: Thandi Vera Posted: 5:07 PM CDT Thursday, Aug. 15, 2024

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This article was published 15/08/2024 (699 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

It all started with a love for food — a deep passion that sparked the idea of bringing people together through the diverse flavours of the world.

“We’re actual foodies. Like, we love food. That’s the start of it,” says Lou Alarkon, co-organizer of Winnipeg’s Streat Feast Festival. “We’re strong proponents of supporting local, so food and supporting local just kind of happened naturally.”

Streat Feast, now in its second year, was born out of a desire to showcase the city’s rich culinary diversity and foster a sense of community.

Alarkon and her cousin, Lynn Alarkon, have been running their women-owned business, Alark Co., since 2016. The idea for Streat Feast was a natural extension of their commitment to promoting local businesses.

“Our foundational values are really just to promote local and support local through our various initiatives,” Alarkon says.

“Winnipeg has so much diversity, and this festival really showcases the epitome of food, culture and community.”

The festival not only highlights local food vendors but also provides a platform for cultural performances, live music and educational programming.

The first Streat Feast, held in 2023, was a success. “It was pretty amazing last year. It was the very first time that we’ve done that large of a food festival at The Forks,” Alarkon says.

The event highlighted small local food businesses that might otherwise go unnoticed. “We’re hoping to really use this festival to put those hidden gems (in the) spotlight,” Alarkon says. “These are normally foods that people don’t really look at or even know of.”

This year’s Streat Feast kicks off Aug. 16 at The Forks’ Anishinaabe Field. In addition to a pop-up market and food vendors, there is a lineup of performances, including Indigenous hoop dancers, teachings by David Budd and various local artists.

The festival will also feature food competitions in collaboration the Churro Stop, Kyu Grill, Sol Food Truck and Intergalactic Sauces. Visitors can participate in Zumba sessions, family games and giveaways, making it a perfect outing for the whole family, says Alarkon.

“We’re just so lucky to have not only the support of the community but also support from local politicians,” she says.

“This is our time to revitalize downtown.”

One of the participating vendors is Mary Muhoho, founder of Shirom Arts Collection. Her business is more than just a way to make a living — it’s a connection to her homeland of Kenya.

Muhoho’s love for beadwork, a craft she practised back home, became the foundation of her business in Winnipeg.

“I had a passion for doing business here in Canada because I did business back home,” says Muhoho, who moved to Winnipeg eight years ago. “When I started, I started small, but people kept on encouraging me, saying, ‘We need to see you in other places.’”

Muhoho’s collection of beaded accessories, including necklaces, bags and belts, has been well-received in Winnipeg, but she’s still dreaming big. “I haven’t opened a store yet, but hopefully, I will because everybody keeps asking me, ‘Where is your store?’” she said.

As she looks forward to the festival, Muhoho says she hopes to connect with new customers.

Another vendor, Tara Hall, owner of The Indigenous Kitchen food truck, started her journey at the end of 2019, just before the pandemic.

“I was working in restaurants for a very long time, and I just wanted to do my own thing,” she says.

It was there that she recognized a need for authentic Indigenous cuisine in the city, inspiring a dream that would eventually lead to the birth of her business in 2020. “I wanted to showcase the foods that I grew up eating and to elevate them,” she says.

Launching a business during the pandemic was no small feat, but Hall was determined. “We tried our best to stay open during COVID, and then we just kept on going,” she says.

The hard work paid off, and by last year, the Indigenous Kitchen was thriving. “Last year was probably the first really, really busy year that I had, because I took on every event possible to get us out there more.”

This year, Hall and her team have been everywhere from the Treaty Five Summit to Roseau River, and now they’re ready to return to Streat Feast. “It’s a very good event. There’s a lot of activities and a lot of foot traffic, so there’s a lot to do and a lot to see — and a lot to eat,” she says.

Streat Feast runs from Friday to Sunday and admission is free. For more information on Alark Co. or the event, visit alarkco.com or streatfeast.ca.

thandi.vera@freepress.mb.ca

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