Global Bites

A one evening festival of flavors and culture from around the globe. In collaboration with Festival International, UL and local international organizations, we will celebrate the rich and diverse international cultures that reside here in our community. And what better way to do so than with food?

The concept is to have 8-12 different communities (Lao, Nigerian, Indian, Lebanese, Persian, Filipino,etc.) set up a tent and sell food items that would be sold as street food in their respective countries. Each community/tent would have 1-2 items that cost $1-$3. They would be just small tastes so that the food lovers have enough room in their bellies to try multiple things from multiple countries. All money raised from the food sales would go to the community or their organization to strengthen them and help them have a budget to do more things throughout the year. In these times of rising xenophobia, the best antidote is knowledge, and food is one of the best ways to bridge gaps and share culture. This would be a way for different communities to meet, eat and connect.

We would host this festival downtown on the eve of Festival International, serving as a kickoff to one of the most exciting events in Lafayette. The festival will also function as a fundraiser, supporting local international community organizations and a nonprofit that welcomes international dignitaries during official visits. Our hope is to raise enough funds annually to send local musicians to international festivals as cultural ambassadors, showcasing Lafayette’s rich music and heritage to the world.