ASTANA – Kazakhstan’s capital will host the Astana Food and Fashion Festival noon-8 p.m. Aug. 27-28, in Arai Park, according to the city akimat (administration). The event is dedicated to the upcoming Constitution Day.
Astana Food Festival 2015. Photo credit: foodfest.kz
“This year two big projects, Astana Food Festival and Pop Up Shop Astana, are collaborating and the theme is Food meets Fashion. Both of the projects aim to make a contribution to the development of the economy and support local producers, restaurants and designers. We want to introduce a new format of family entertainment,” said festival founder and director Aliya Saparova.
“The new format means that we want people to come with their families and friends to the park while there is great weather to have positive emotions, to do some sports, eat tasty food and watch performances and culinary films along with participating in masterclasses. Visitors will be able to listen to the great music and their children can have fun in a special area for kids.”
The festival is expected to be bigger this year, since many different projects joined the programme and the partners list has been extended as well, she added.
The event also hopes to encourage people in the principles of a healthy lifestyle, as well as acquaint citizens with the innovations in the fashion and gastronomy industries. The festival is expecting to have 10,000 visitors and the association of Kazakh skateboarders is planning to perform.
Photo credit: foodfest.kz
Visitors will have the unique opportunity to taste dishes from a special menu and look for interesting offers from the best cafes and restaurants in the city, according to akimat’s website. They will also be able to see new collections from local designers and handicrafts, accessories and projects by modern Kazakh artists.
Arai Park will be divided into several parts – Shatyr (Kazakh and international brands in the food industry, major restaurant chains), Zheruyik (representatives of restaurants, coffee shops, bars, and start-up projects) and Kok Bazar (manufacturers and suppliers of natural food products). Manufacturers and distributors of conceptual products for the kitchen, home appliances, accessories and culinary literature will be in the Astanalyk section.
The Pop Up Shop Astana will present new collections by Kazakh designers, handicrafts and projects of contemporary local artists.
The capital’s top chefs will give master classes, participate in chef battles and talk about health and nutrition, noted the website.
The festival promises to have different entertainment and sports areas with classes for yoga, Zumba, street workout and CrossFit. There will an Expo 2017 area, a Chill Out zone for free communication and leisure and creative improvisation, as well as a special film zone.
Mamas Expo will be a sector where visitors will be able to learn about and purchase products for children, women, family and the home, according to the festival’s website. A children’s play area will be complemented by creative workshops, entertainment programmes on child development centres and games with animators.
Last year’s event, known as the Astana Food Festival, gathered around 3,000 visitors, according to the website.
