About Cincinnati Soul Food Festival
Our Vision
The Cincinnati Soul Food Festival is an event highlighting traditional soul food cooking, taking place during the Labor Day Holiday Weekend, in which, area restaurateurs and food vendors operating in the city of Cincinnati’s Soul Food arena will collectively present a smorgasbord of delicious food, drinks, and delectable bites & delights to be enjoyed together by local families and friends, as well as "guests," in a spacious outdoor social setting as an unofficial fantastic finale to summer and an ode to the outdoor cooking season.
This is your official invite to the event that everybody's talking about, when they say, "You Are Invited to The Cookout!" We hope to see you there.
Why Soul Food
At Cincinnati Soul Food Festival, we aim to celebrate the rich culinary traditions of soul food. Our mission is to bring people together through the offerings of delicious food and the spotlighting of a vibrant culture. Soul food is rich in taste, comforting, and full of history and glory. Dishes like southern fried chicken, collard greens, macaroni and cheese, cornbread, black-eyed peas, and candied yams aren’t just delicious; they embody the deep cultural roots of the ancestry of those who have migrated northward from the American South.
Soul food not only nourishes our bodies, but it also speaks to our hearts and mends our hungry minds. It allows us to feel seen and heard.
Our Sustainability
Soul food can be the most savory or the sweetest tasting food you've ever known. It may cross your palate as something mild in flavor, or sometimes spicy, but what is always true is that it will be flavorful. This event celebrates the tastes of home while making a positive difference in our community by uplifting family values and reminding us of where we came from, when times were better, and when it was "all good in the hood."
If you're interested in becoming a vendor, please click on the Vendors tab to explore opportunities to showcase your recipes and offer your fares.