The inaugural “Soulfood & Sips” will celebrate African American and Black culture in Spokane on August 30 with food, music, and cultural storytelling.
SPOKANE, Wash. — An event celebrating African American and Black culture, food and music is coming to Spokane on Saturday, August 30, from 12 p.m. to 7 p.m.
The location for “Soulfood & Sips 2025” will be at Wall Street between Spokane Falls Blvd and Post Street. It is free and open to the public.
The festival is the first of its kind and is hosted by Educate, Entertain & Get Stuff Done (EEG), which was formed in March this year.
“Let’s bring out the cocktails, let’s bring out the cuisine, all the music,” said Julie Williamson Serquinia, the president of EEG.
EEG says this event was inspired by Spokane’s ‘Tacos y Tequila Festival,’ which was canceled this year due to public safety issues.
“We were actually inspired by the 2021 all the way up through this past year versions of Tacos y Tequila. We thought, ‘Why can’t we do that for the African American and Black community in Spokane,'” said Serquinia.
She says because Tacos y Tequila was canceled, EEG will donate 10% of all alcohol sales to Nuestras Raices Centro Comunitario.
EEG says every plate of food and every drink sold will support its goal of opening an African American Museum and Community Resource Center.
“If we have institutions where we want our people to gather, we’ll see each other more often,” said Serquinia.
The event is meant to highlight diversity and inclusion by having live performances, soulful flavors and cultural storytelling. Below is a list of the different festival highlights:
- Different types of cuisine ranging from French Creole, Ethiopian, Southern BBQ and Soul food.
- Live music such as Hip Hop, Gospel, Jazz and Reggae will be played during the entirety of the event.
- There will be cultural connections such as craft vendors, a kids’ play area, and an African American history booth.
- There will be a beer, wine and whiskey garden for people to participate in community spaces.
“Soulfood & Sips is more than just a food and music festival; it’s an opportunity to come together, embrace our differences, and celebrate community,” said Serquinia.