The Foodees Food & Cultural Festival kicks off this afternoon at 1 p.m., making it the first event to take place at the Freedom Bridge in downtown Augusta.
The bridge and part of Reynolds Street will be filled with more than 50 food trucks and tents showcasing the best of local and international cuisine including foods from Germany, Honduras, Japan, and Africa.
“November is a good time of the year to generate new business like the addition of the Foodees Food & Cultural Festival,” said VP of Destination Development & Community Engagement, Jennifer Bowen. “This event will have an economic impact through the vendors staying overnight, local grocery stores and suppliers selling their goods, and customers enjoying a new event. We hope the festival will become an annual event and attract overnight visitors in the coming years.”
Another festival highlight will be the Cultural Showcase which displays artwork from the city’s thriving arts scene, featuring local artists and craftsmen displaying handmade jewelry, paintings, and sculptures. Festival-goers will have the opportunity to engage with the artists, learn about their creative process, and even purchase one-of-a-kind pieces to take home as treasured mementos.
Destination Augusta reached out to the Foodees Festival in April to explore an event in Augusta, specifically at Augusta’s new gathering place, the Freedom Bridge. As a first-time event on the bridge, Destination Augusta and the City of Augusta committed to preparing the way for this venue to be the host for this event and others in the future.
“Augusta’s Riverwalk now accentuated by the Freedom Bridge is the newest backdrop for locals and visitors to gather and experience the river,” said President & CEO, Bennish Brown. “We look forward to seeing how this new space draws in events and creates new reasons to visit and enjoy Augusta.”
The event is scheduled for Friday, Nov. 3, from 1 p.m. to 7 p.m. and Saturday through Sunday, Nov. 4-5, from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Admission is free. Festival organizers will return to the CSRA in early May for a similar event in Aiken.
