Support local, eat global: International Food Festival coming to downtown Raleigh

Raleigh's International Food Food Festival is coming to City Plaza at 421 Fayetteville St. this Saturday. The sixth annual event will run from noon until 10 p.m.

Event organizer, Bearta Alchacar, said the festival is free for all with over 23,000 people attending last year.

"We wanted to make it free so everybody can go to it and experience the world in Raleigh," said Alchacar.

"[The festival] brings everybody together to celebrate life [and] celebrate our community. It's so welcoming to everybody."

Over 30 countries will be represented at the festival including Ireland, Lebanon, Spain and more.

"We love doing it for our community because it is about promoting cross-cultural exchange and respect among different cultures," said Alchacar.

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All businesses at the festival are local, Alchacar said, and some will also be selling beer and wine from around the world.

"They're passionate about food. They're passionate about their culture but they have a full-time job and this is their side hustle ... they sell merchandise, like bazaar type items, things brought from their country and then brought back here that they wanted to share with everybody," she said.

Event attendees will also have the opportunity to learn dances from around the world.

"You learn how to salsa, to belly dance — how to do everything. So you eat some, go burn some calories and go back and eat some more," said Alchacar.

Alchacar said Raleigh is a place where people can feel at home and keep the good things from their culture while also learning American culture.

"For me, that's what I always told my kids. I said, 'You're a richer person if you expose yourself and get the good stuff from everywhere you can,'" she said.

"Raleigh's always been a kind city, and I see everywhere kindness. All are welcome for a reason. I don't think y ou can say that everywhere, but Raleigh has always been a town where you feel at home," said Alchacar.

All ages are encouraged to attend the festival. There will even be a snowball fight and jump rope contest for children.

"If we can bring life back to downtown Raleigh, why not? You know, we'll do whatever we can," said Alchacar.