Suhoor Fest, night market and food festival, hosts 3 Valley events during Ramadan

Suhoor is a time to get ready, reflect on the day and connect during the month of Ramadan, says Mohammad Abdullah. In Arabic, Suhoor means "the last part of the night," and it is the daily pre-dawn meal that Muslims eat before beginning their fast. That ritual spawned the aptly named national halal food festival and late-night market, Suhoor Fest.

“It’s a night where community all comes together,” says Abdullah, the festival’s vendor coordinator.

This year, the festival is making its debut in Arizona, kicking off at 11 p.m. on Saturday in Gilbert. It will be the first of three Saturday events focused on food and culture.

“This type of event hasn’t really been done before, or at least not on this scale (in Arizona). We want to create that space,” Abdullah says.
Suhoor Fest started in Dearborn, Michigan, in 2018. Since then, these events have taken off, attracting thousands of people in Atlanta, Dallas and southern California. The Gilbert event will run until 3 a.m. and will be hosted in the parking lot of Mesquite High School, near McQueen and Warner roads.

Although the event is centered around Ramadan, which began on Feb. 28, organizers note that all are invited to attend. Ramadan is the ninth month of the Islamic calendar, a span in which Muslims believe the Quran was revealed to the prophet Muhammad. To mark the holy month, Muslims fast from sunrise to sunset.

“I think this is a really great opportunity for others to come and learn about our traditions, get a taste of our food and our culture,” says Bushra Hasan, who runs AZ Halal Eats, a social account on Instagram and TikTok, and is a local partner of Suhoor Fest.

The opening evening will include more than 75 vendors from across Arizona. Organizers aim to grow that list to as many as 150 for the preceding events. Food is a focus of the festival, and cuisines range from traditional Middle Eastern dishes to tacos, wood-fired pizzas, ice cream and coffee from both new and more established restaurants and food trucks.
Hussein Osman and his family opened Pita Valley in Tempe about five years ago, adding a second outpost of their original, 40-year-old New York restaurant. Pita Valley serves Lebanese-style street food, such as shawarma and kabobs.

For Suhoor Fest, Osman will load up their rotating vertical broilers and carve chicken shawarma on site. Ramadan is already busy for Pita Valley, which offers an expanded menu and only closes between 5 and 9 a.m. during the month. But, Osman says he was eager to sign on for the festival, too.

“Suhoor Fest will give Muslims and non-Muslims an opportunity to gain more knowledge and share experiences with each other,” he says. “I love what it stands for.”

In addition to food, the event will feature a bazaar with henna tattooing, clothing, jewelry and art. Entry is $5 and tickets are available on the Goodhood app, which was developed by the team behind Food for Palestine, an organization that partners with local restaurants, cafes and bakeries to raise funds for aid in Gaza.

While organizers and participants note that Ramadan is a time for reflection, they also say it’s an important time to spend with others. Hasan is looking forward to walking around Suhoor Fest with her family to learn about local businesses and sample new foods.

“All of that just makes Ramadan feel more memorable and special,” she says.

Suhoor Fest Arizona

March 8, 15 and 22, 11 p.m. to 3 a.m.
500 S. McQueen Road, Gilbert