Thousands Attend Naperville Halal Festival Despite Rain
The event was hosted by the Illinois Muslim Chamber of Commerce (ILMCC). It aimed to highlight the diverse and vibrant Muslim lifestyles of the Naperville and Greater Chicagoland area, representing cultures from around the world.
Held at Frontier Park in Naperville, attendees gathered on Saturday to enjoy a wide range of experiences including food, traditional attire, arts, and culture.
According to NCTV, ILMCC President Shafeek Abubaker expressed the importance of supporting and connecting Muslim businesses for growth, saying, "This organization needs to support and help and connect between the Muslim businesses so that they can grow."
He emphasized that the event provided a platform for small businesses to showcase their services. Around 20 food vendors were present, offering an opportunity to present their products to the larger community.
The festival aimed to foster unity among people of all faiths and backgrounds, promoting interfaith dialogue. Abubaker mentioned, "This is the annual inaugural event. And even with adverse weather like this, we are seeing a good crowd coming in. So that is inspiring us to do this event year after year." Despite challenging weather conditions, the event drew thousands of attendees, leading the organizers to plan for an annual recurrence of the Naperville Halal Fest.
'Well-organized' event
Supporting the inaugural event was Naperville City Councilman Benny White, who praised the organization and setup of the festival. He stated, "It's absolutely very well-organized. Great vendors can't wait to get into some of the foods I'm about to eat here in the second, and it's a great venue." White's attendance exemplified the positive community response.
Such events serve as opportunities to bring people together through food and conversation. Earlier in the year, the North Carolina Muslim Festival successfully brought hundreds of individuals together to foster connections with community members.
Source: Agencies
