BOISE, Idaho — Hundreds of people gathered at Julia Davis Park on Saturday for the seventh annual Boise Soul Food Festival, an event organizers say celebrates community and cultural diversity throughout the Treasure Valley.

The festival featured nearly 100 vendors serving diverse cuisines, including Black, Filipino, Mexican and other foods from various cultural backgrounds. Fostering community connections through food

“There’s so much food, so much different food. It’s not just African American food,” said one attendee. “It’s Filipino, it’s Mexican, it’s Caucasian, it’s all any foods that you want to partake of,” said Debra Woods, who has been a volunteer for five years. 

Beyond the food offerings, the festival included performances and celebrations of Black history, drawing packed crowds throughout the day.

“The culture is to get everybody together. Bring everybody together,” Woods said. 

For many vendors, the event represented both a business opportunity and a personal milestone. Several entrepreneurs used the festival as a platform to showcase their culinary ventures.

“Being a vendor for me is just like an all-time high,” said Sydney Nash, a business owner. 

The festival, which returns to Boise year after year, aims to bring together people who share a common appreciation for soul food, community and culture. 

“It’s one of my favorite events to come to, just the togetherness, the music, the people, the community, food, drinks,” Nash said.