“Food is very much a part of CultureFest,” said Cheryl DeGroat Dover, event food coordinator. “A lot of people say the first booth they go to is a food booth. All these vendors have their followers and always go away very happy.”
Each of the 13 food vendors is a veteran of at least one past CultureFest, led by BFG Funnel Cakes, which has been to all 22. Others have 10 years in, such as Springfield’s Akbar Temple, which sells grilled pork chops.
The Freemason group does monthly fundraisers and makes sure CultureFest is on its agenda each September. Similarly, Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. does grilled corn to raise money.
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Chester Foods has five booths of all-American foods.
Some of the stories behind the businesses are just as compelling as the menus. Mom Andrasik’s Hungarian Cabbage Rolls owner Mike Larson has one such tale.
His grandmother came to the United States as a 7-year-old immigrant in the 1890s and it’s her recipe that people still hunger for. They usually sell out of the unique item.
There will be three options for ribs, including Big E’s Southern “Q,” which offers an out-of-the-ordinary item in barbecue loaded Grippos Potato Chips.
Although CultureFest goes until 6 p.m., DeGroat Dover recommends getting food early as many of the vendors sell out before the end.
Fellow organizer Nancy Flinchbaugh has a suggestion to help.
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“Come for lunch during the opening, take in the entertainment and take some other foods home for dinner,” Flinchbaugh said. “We get a lot of smiling faces that way.”
For a list of all food vendors, menus and other information on CultureFest, go to https://springfieldohio.gov/culturefest/.
HOW TO GO
What: CultureFest 2018
Where: Springfield City Hall Plaza, 76 East High Street
When: Saturday, Sept. 22, 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Admission: free
More info: 937-324-7696 or https://springfieldohio.gov/culturefest/
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