In less than 30 days, the 18th Annual Taste of Soul Family Festival takes place and hundreds of thousands of people are expected to enjoy the food, music and opportunities at the iconic huge event.
The daylong festival, presented by Bakewell Media and the L.A. Sentinel, will be held on Saturday, October 21, from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m., along Crenshaw Blvd., between Stocker St. and Obama Blvd.
Renowned for showcasing the best cuisines, entertainment and shopping in the Southland, this year’s Taste of Soul is on track to be one of the largest ever with all 300 vendor booths officially sold out. In addition, TOS will offer a range of attractions for all ages.
According to Danny J. Bakewell, Sr., TOS creator/founder, “Taste of Soul is a multigenerational event offering activities for everyone in your family such as electrifying music stages, health testing, job opportunities, networking prospects and practically every type of food you desire or can imagine.”
A major highlight is the return of the StarQuest Singing Competition where winners will perform at the 2023 Taste of Soul. Participants can still enter the competition or vote on StarQuest vocalists by visiting tasteofsoulla.com.
Other favorite enticements include Children’s World sponsored by First 5 and Lucas Museum and featuring games and activities for young people, Bakewell Media “Music for the Soul” Soundstage presented by Chevrolet, and Brenda Marsh-Mitchell Gospel Stage sponsored by City National Bank. Also, Mothers In Action will host the popular Beer Garden and HPP Cares will have accessory dwelling units or ADUs open for tours by interested homeowners.
Encouraging the public to attend “the biggest and baddest block party in all of Los Angeles,” Bakewell added, “Taste of Soul is simply about the care for Black people and wanting the best for our community. I sincerely appreciate our corporate and community partners who united with Bakewell Media to present a first-class event.”
Taste of Soul partners consist of Bakewell Media, Los Angeles Sentinel, L.A. Watts Times, Mothers In Action, Brotherhood Crusade, 94.7 The Wave, County of Los Angeles, City of Los Angeles, LAUSD, 102.3 Radio-Free KJLH, CBS/KCAL Los Angeles, Baldwin Hills Crenshaw Mall and the Law Offices of Ivie McNeill Wyatt Purcell and Diggs.
Sponsors include Metro, Chevrolet, City National Bank, SoCalGas, Chase, Destination Crenshaw, HPP Cares, Waymo, AAA, Wells Fargo, McDonalds, Bank of America, SEIU 2015, Southern California Edison, UCLA Health, South Coast AQMD, Pasadena City College, DoorDash, MLK Community Healthcare, US Bank, California Black Power Network, California Teachers Association, California Black Media, Watts Health, Metropolitan Water District, Lucas Museum, Charles R. Drew University, UTLA, AT&T, Anthem Blue Cross, Verizon, Californians for Energy Independence, Kroger, American Heart Association, Providence, LADWP, Self Help Federal Credit Union, Superior Grocers, Cal Fire, OneLegacy, Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association, Blue Shield of California, St. John’s, Center for Healthcare Rights, Commerce Casino & Hotel, Kaiser Permanente, Long Beach PD, Cedars-Sinai, Center Stage Group, Ozeran Law, NHS, Save Our Water, Lee Andrews Group, Airbnb, SEIU Local 721, Private School Village, Law office of Vincent Davis, USC, Comerica Bank, West Basin, LAWA, California Highway Patrol, ABC7, Black Girl Sunscreen, First 5, MRKT Co., and AltaMed.
Nicole Williams contributed to this article.
