In Alexandria: Around The World Cultural Food Festival

ALEXANDRIA, VA — Ten years ago, I spent part of a sunny Saturday afternoon on the National Mall eating my way around the world.

At least it seemed that way.

It was Saturday, June 18, 2016, and the first Around The World Cultural Food Festival was underway near the Washington Monument. A tented stage had been set up on the east side of the monument, with food vendors working from small tents nearby.

I remember the sun. It was a brilliant day, and I remember looking for shade whenever I could find it.

There were smiles everywhere. More than anything, I remember the pride people took in sharing the food and traditions of their countries.

They weren’t simply handing someone a plate and collecting money. They were sharing deep-rooted parts of their country’s culture, and you could feel the love and pride behind it.

And, yes, I remember the food.

Especially the Jamaican jerk chicken.

That stop meant a little more to me. I have always been proud of my Jamaican heritage, which came through my paternal grandmother, Philippa Rebecca Angell Malone. She was born in Kingston and raised in Mandeville, Jamaica.

Because of her, I have always felt a connection to Jamaica and have been naturally drawn to Jamaican food and culture.

There is a Jamaican expression I grew up appreciating: “Irie.” It expresses a feeling that things are good, peaceful and positive. Put simply, all is well. “Irie, mon” carries that same warm, positive spirit.

So when I came across Jamaican food on the Mall that day, I wasn’t about to pass it by.

And that jerk chicken didn’t disappoint. It was absolutely delicious.

My appreciation for food also came from my extended family. My dear late beloved cousin, Kevin Malone, was a legendary, award-winning restaurateur who taught me how much there was to appreciate about food from all around the world.

Kevin taught me that great food was about more than what landed on the plate. It was also about the people, traditions and cultures behind it.

Maybe that’s part of the reason the festival stuck with me.

People who might never travel to the countries represented could walk from tent to tent and get a small taste of somewhere new.

More Than Food

The Around The World Cultural Food Festival was never just about eating.

From its first year, visitors could experience cooking and craft demonstrations, music and dance performances, along with international food.

Sometimes the conversation across a food table could be as memorable as what was on the plate.

The festival continued in Washington until the COVID-19 pandemic interrupted large public gatherings in 2020.

When it came back the following year, it was coming to Alexandria.

A New Chapter in Alexandria

On Saturday, July 31, 2021, the festival made its Alexandria debut at Oronoco Bay Park.

Five years after attending the first festival near the Washington Monument, I was there, too. I remember seeing something familiar: people eager to share their countries and cultures with whoever stopped at their tables.

Why Alexandria?

Exactly how Alexandria was chosen after the pandemic interrupted the festival’s Washington run isn’t something organizers have laid out in detail. But they’ve said plainly that they’ve made it their home.

I can understand why.

For me, Oronoco Bay Park is easier to get to than the Mall, and I have found the parking options on the Alexandria side of the Potomac River much better. For anyone attending a large outdoor festival, getting there and finding a place to park can make a difference.

The park also provides plenty of open space along the Potomac, with Old Town only steps away. Moving across the river kept the festival close to its Washington-area audience.

A Bigger Table

This year’s 10th-anniversary celebration is expected to represent more than 45 countries, with more than 30 ethnic food and dessert vendors, more than 100 international artisans and crafters, traditional live performances, a children’s area and two beer gardens, according to organizers.

Nobody has to try everything. You can look for something familiar or walk up to a tent serving something you’ve never eaten before. Sometimes the best thing you eat all day is something you hadn’t planned on ordering.

Ten Years Later

The Around The World Cultural Food Festival returns to Oronoco Bay Park, 100 Madison St., on Saturday, Aug. 29, from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Admission is free, and the event is rain or shine. Organizers also advertise nearby parking and Metro accessibility.

For many people there Saturday, this will be their first Around The World Cultural Food Festival.

For me, this year’s 10th anniversary is especially meaningful. I was there for that first sunny Saturday beside the Washington Monument in 2016, and I was there when the festival began its Alexandria chapter along the waterfront in 2021.

I still remember that mouth-watering Jamaican jerk chicken from the first festival and its connection to the Jamaican heritage my grandmother passed down to our family.

But more than any particular dish, what has stayed with me is the pride people take in sharing a small part of their country with everyone who walks up to their tables.

The festival is bigger now, and the setting has changed.

The food gets people to stop at the tents.

The people behind those tents are what make you remember them.

I’m looking forward to Saturday.

Irie, mon.