Despite a record turnout in Naperville, Chicagoland Halal Fest will be held at College of DuPage in Glen Ellyn this year because not enough parking is available.
The event made its debut in Naperville in 2023 and showcases the diverse Muslim culture through food, performances and local artisans and businesses. Last year it drew about 22,000 people, 30 food vendors and more than 60 business vendors, said Shafeek Abubaker, president of the Illinois Muslim Chamber of Commerce, which organizes the fest.
For the past three years it’s been held at Naperville’s Frontier Park, but a new location was sought when they learned the Neuqua Valley High School lot they use for parking would be under construction, Abubaker said.
“What we have been told is for the next three years, the construction is going to be happening and the parking lot will not be available at all,” he said.
Lot construction started last year, but the fest remained doable because some spaces were still available for use. With the entire lot now being closed, the parking situation became too complicated, Abubaker said.
“We wanted to keep it within Naperville, if at all possible. But unfortunately we don’t have many options,” said Abubaker, who lives in Naperville. “The locations are very limited, and one thing which we are very particular about is not to create trouble for our neighbors and make sure that it is convenient for everyone.”
Organizers looked at multiple alternative locations, including RiverEdge Park in Aurora and the DuPage County fairgrounds in Wheaton, before settling on College of DuPage, which has ample parking, a rental fee similar to Frontier Park’s, and an ability to accommodate thousands of people on an accessible site.
Another positive about the location is it will allow the event to have longer hours: noon to 11 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 8, and noon to 10 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 9.
“It has been a challenge because (with) Naperville, we have a city regulation to close the event at a certain time. It has always been a challenge to get the people out at that specific time,” Abubaker said. “People come from far, they reach here late and they may have trouble finding parking spots. And by the time they come in, we are forcing them to go.”
The extended hours also will better accommodate those who prefer events later in the evening. As a bonus, Abubaker hopes the new location should attract more college students and young people.
But hosting the event away from Naperville also brings its challenges. Abubaker said funding from the city’s Special Events and Community Arts (SECA) program was critical to Halal Fest in the past. Last year, it received $56,800 from the city for an event that costs about $200,000 to hold, he said.
To fill the financial gap this year, they are hoping to find more sponsors, Abubaker said. If they return to Naperville in future years, which is possible, organizers will likely apply for SECA funding again, he said.
Details on what Halal Fest this year will offer, including entertainment and food, is still being decided, he added. The goal is not necessarily to increase the number of vendors but to find a balance between quality and quantity.
“We don’t believe in adding vendors just for the sake of adding vendors and making it the largest event in that sense,” Abubaker said. “We want to make sure that we bring in quality vendors, diverse vendors, vendors who sell products which may not be available at other events or stores.”
The fest’s ultimate mission is to promote diversity and community as the event grows, he said.
“When we started the Halal Fest, we were looking to host an event which does two things: One, within the Muslim community there is a lot of diversity, so highlighting the diversity and bringing the community together,” he said. “Second is actually bringing the larger community (together) and creating an environment where everybody can get to know each other.”
That’s something he thinks Halal Fest has achieved in its first three years, Abubaker said. Last year, at least 25% of attendees did not identify as Muslim, he said, and some traveled from places like Indiana and Wisconsin to attend.
“We want to make this the largest Muslim celebration happening in the Midwest,” he said. “I think it is already there, and we want to continue to build on it.”
cstein@chicagotribune.com
