I’ve have a deep appreciation for Ramadan. I have too often seen religious fasting be used more of a dietary device than a spiritual discipline. One thing that I admire about Ramadan is that no matter what your intent, if you abstain from drinking and eating for 12 hours, then you must be asking for some kind of divine assistance. I’ve been drawn to the idea of celebrating with the Oak City Muslim community as they come together to mark the end of their holy month and the North Carolina Eid Fest was an ideal opportunity. Organized by the Islamic Association of Raleigh (IAR), the festival hosted inside the NC fairgrounds promised the biggest Eid festival in North Carolina with food, vendors, and celebration. The organizers made sure to emphasize that all people were welcomed.
My toddler and I arrived at Eid Fest just as the festival’s doors opened, giving us a temporary lull from soon to be sizable crowd. Our first stop was to the host of the festival, a booth for the IAR offering coffee, lollipops, and magnets of your name in Arabic. Had a friendly and light chat about beliefs with the folks at the booth and though we don’t share the same theology, we shared the same appreciation for each other’s presence.
Every ticket came with a free snack, your choice of popcorn or cotton candy. I figured strains of molten sugar would be a hit with my toddler, but alas, Dad ended up eating most of it.
With a belly full of sugar, I went in search of something more substantial, which I found at the Sister’s Kitchen table. A bowl of chicken shawarma covered in white sauce was a very reasonable $7. Moist chicken, decent portion and heavily seasoned. A delightful bowl of food.
The amount of craft drinks and coffee available at Eid Fest was a pleasant surprise to me. The Raleigh based Qamar Qafe cart caught my eye with its elegantly decorated coffee cart and a Date Cold foam iced coffee. Chatted briefly with the owner Miriam, who juggles the mobile business between her full time job.
The 321 Coffee base was more assertive then I initially anticipated but once I mixed the cold foam into the coffee, the sweetness of the dates paired nicely with the latte.
With my toddler melting down, I went into search for one last dish. My journey led me to Cary’s Mughal Kitchen table and their samosa chaat. I was happy to end the night with one of favorite Indian dishes, which at $7 felt like a tremendous deal.
Savory samosa covered in sweet chutney and crunchy bits. Complex and comforting all at the same time.
I was tremendously grateful to be able to celebrate with our Muslim neighbors at Eid Fest and be part of its tangible joy.
North Carolina Eid Fest 2026