This past weekend, the city of Regina, Canada, hosted its first-ever Halal Festival, bringing together members of the community for a day of food, cultural expression, and dialogue centered around Islam.

Held at the Darul Falah Islamic Centre, the one-day event featured a diverse range of booths, including displays on Quran education, Islamic clothing, and, most notably, halal cuisine, which quickly became the highlight for many attendees, according to news agencies.

Approximately ten local organizers coordinated the festival, which aimed not only to celebrate halal food but also to offer a space for intercultural exchange and community building.

Aasif Bulbulia, Youth and Community Engagement Officer at the center, said the event sought to present Islam in a way that resonates with the local context while honoring cultural roots.

“What’s unique about this community is that we’re exploring how to engage with Islam in a way that fits this cultural context,” Bulbulia explained, “without losing the values and traditions from the places we’ve come from.”

Local vendors enthusiastically participated, using the event as a platform to educate attendees about halal food practices.

One participant, Habib, originally from Bangladesh, described the festival as “a big event” for first-time organizers and applauded the dedication of the volunteers. He said the goal was to both educate the public about halal practices and foster a sense of unity and celebration.

With Regina’s Muslim population estimated at around 20,000, organizers expressed hope that the festival would become an annual tradition. Due to high turnout and limited space at the Islamic Centre, future editions of the event may be held at a larger venue.