The festivities ahead

North End

The Forks

A new evening summer festival is aiming to create a full sensory experience, while highlighting the best of the city’s local food, music, and makers scene.

Crave Nite Festival, named after the cravings the organizers hope the festival will fulfill for attendees, is “an elevated night market experience,” said Lou Alarkon, co-founder Alark Co. and organizer of the festival.

“We love food, and our events are centred around food and community,” Alarkon said.

The free-to-attend event will take over The Forks CN Stage and Field for three days — and all five senses — according to Alarkon.

“It’s an immersive full sensory experience that celebrates what Manitoba has to offer,” she said.

At Crave Nite, there will be 30 different food vendors between independently run food stalls and trucks satisfying taste and scent with a variety of culinary dishes.

“We find at markets there isn’t always much to do,” Alarkon said, explaining that’s where the immersive idea came from.

The evening will feature a full market of vendors to see, but many of them will have hands-on activations led by local creators, including pottery, flower crown, live art, axe throwing, and photo experiences.

A musical ambiance of DJs and artists will be playing late into the evening, according to event details.

Alarkon says her community work is driven from wanting to make Winnipeg better.

“(We’re) locals supporting locals,” she said.

The firm she co-founded along with her cousin Lyn, is based in the North End and specializes in community events such as UbeVerse, StrEAT Feast, and the Tyndall community market.

“(I want) to prove there’s something fun to do in Winnipeg and create immersive experiences,” Alarkon said.

“Growing up, people say ‘(Winnipeg) is boring,’ or ‘there’s nothing to do’,” she said. “I see lots of negative Nellies, and it makes me want to do more, prove them wrong.”

In addition to Crave Nite, later this summer Alark Co. will host StrEAT Feast for its fourth year. Alarkon said there are more than double the food options at StrEAT Feast.

“It stems from loving food, and highlighting street food from all over the world,” Alarkon said, adding she hopes to “give people a taste of the world.”

StrEAT Feast also holds eating competitions some may call out of the norm, such as a birria or churro eating challenge.

“It’s not for us; it’s for all of us. And it’s free, so can’t go wrong,” she laughed.

Crave Nite runs July 24 to 26 and StrEAT Feast runs Aug. 13 to 16. For more information about upcoming events, visit alarkco.com