Collard Fest

Join us Tuesday, July 8 from 6–9 PM at Olbrich Gardens for Collard Fest—a free community celebration of food, culture, and connection. Enjoy West African and Caribbean cuisine prepared by local chefs, explore a farm stand with fresh veggies from Firm Footing Farm, and experience an evening of storytelling, music, and garden learning.

6:00–8:30 PM
• Food Vendors: Enjoy collard greens and other dishes rooted in African diaspora foodways from Traderoots (Chef Yusuf Bin-Rella & REAP), Rasta Barista, and Woo’s Food to the Soul.
• Farm Stand: Stock up on fresh produce from Firm Footing Farm, a space cultivating equity and experimentation in agriculture.
• Discovery Cart & Companion Plantings: Learn how collards grow alongside celosia and calendula, and see how Olbrich’s Herb Garden is tracking pollinator activity.

6:30–7:00 PM
• Storytelling Pop-Up: Hosted by writer and educator Qwantese Winters, this storytelling session features first memories of collard greens shared by Vivian King and Charles Payne.

7:00–8:30 PM
• Live Music by Sinkane: Experience the genre-bending sounds of Sudanese-American artist Ahmed Gallab, fusing funk, Afro-beat, gospel, and soul in a joyful, high-energy concert.

Collard Fest is a vibrant gathering rooted in community, culture, and the shared nourishment of land and story. Reserve your free ticket at olbrich.org/calendar/collard-fest.