Where can you sample dishes from around the globe, dance to the rhythms of the world, and shop for artisanal goods, all in an afternoon? On the Village Green, of course, at the Wyoming World Food and Music Festival: Taste the Love, on Saturday, May 11 from 1 – 5 pm.
“Food and music bring everybody together,” says City Council member Jeff LeRoy, and there promises to be plenty of both.
LeRoy started the city’s Cultural Collaborative to highlight Wyoming’s cultural diversity, and the group held its first event in February to rave reviews. He hopes this new festival will attract visitors from all over Cincinnati. “We’d like to have people from our neighbor communities join us for the fun,” he says.
Monica Tuck, a freelance producer who organized much of the event, agrees. “Wyoming is a community that encourages diversity and unity,” she says. “What better way to showcase that than with amazing food and incredible entertainment?”
Visitors to the festival will be able to try foods from Andy’s Mediterranean, street tacos from La Casita, African cuisine from Teranga, and Vietnamese and Chinese dishes by Song Long. Gabby’s will offer Italian cuisine, and Station Family + BBQ will have picnic basket meals to go, plus $1 off draft beer on their patio during the festival. Street Pops provides cool treats, and there will be beers from Taft’s Ale House Brewporium and beverages by event sponsor LL Spirits, including kid-friendly fresh fruit drinks.
In addition, festival goers can shop among artisans offering photography, jewelry, crafts, coffee, soaps and bath items, and leather goods.
The entertainment kicks off at 1 pm and lasts throughout the afternoon:
1:00 – Opening Remarks w/ Jeff Leroy
1:10 – MC Baoku Moses/African Folklore Ensemble: Authentic African Drumming and singing
1:40 – Middle East Tribal Belly Dance Group: Keshvar Project
2:10 – Latin Band: Toca Madera
3:00 – Baoku World Fusion Band
3:45 – Grand Finale w/all bands
5:00 – Closing Remarks
Details of the vendors and bands can be found on the Wyoming World Food and Music Festival Facebook page, or by following the hashtags #TASTETHELOVE and #WORLDINWYOMING.
Jeff LeRoy is excited about the online response and is already looking forward to future events. “Let’s hope this festival is the First Annual.”
