The Boise Soul Food Festival takes place on Saturday from 11:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. at Julia Davis Park and this festival features some of the best food around.
We met Yharman Williams, the owner of Place that Feeds YO Face. Yharman and his team cooked all kinds of delicious soul food dishes and the lines were always the longest.
Man, I have your catfish, macaroni and cheese, collard greens, cornbread, we have gumbo, we have chicken and waffles and we have our famous peach pie,” Williams said. “That goes pretty fast.”
The Place that Feeds YO Face is one of several food and drink stalls, but this festival also features other businesses selling clothing, textiles and art.
“I specialize in resin art,” says Lee Elaine, owner of Bruja Spa. “They can glow, they can shine, and they carry some kind of blessing depending on the combination of crystals I put in them.”
We watched Lee interact with some potential customers, as this festival gives businesses a chance to showcase their products to people who may not know them yet. The Soul Food Festival also gives people in the Treasure Valley a chance to learn about the culture.
“Exactly, it’s a conglomerate where everyone comes together and showcases their work,” said Elaine. “They showcase their food, their clothes and even their talents.”
The festival features live music performances, including one of the best renditions of the national anthem I’ve ever heard by Ryan Gage. There will also be a performance by the Idaho BCA Gospel Workshop Choir and a rib-eating contest as part of the festival.
Shari Baber and Trish Walker lead the organization of the festival with the help of hard-working volunteers, giving people the opportunity to come together and greet old friends every summer.
“We want you to enjoy yourself. We hope that this day brings you peace, love and happiness,” said Baber at the opening of the festival. “This year, a special treat awaits you.”
This year marks the fourth year of the Boise Soul Food Festival at Julia Davis Park. I have covered it for several years and have learned that many food vendors use this event to boost their business.
“Hopefully I’ll have a truck in the near future, maybe in a few months, so I hope we get something good done here today,” Williams said. “It’s a beautiful thing.”
