2nd New England BIPOC Festival

By Ian Lenahan
THE PORTSMOUTH HERALD
PORTSMOUTH — Leaders of last year’s inaugural BIPOC Fest in Portsmouth, a celebration of diversity and the Seacoast’s Black and Indigenous people of color, are expanding and rebranding the event this fall.

Renamed the New England BIPOC Fest, about 30 food vendors, arts and culture organizations and nonprofits from around New Hampshire, Maine, Massachusetts and Vermont are scheduled to participate.

The event was founded by David Vargas, owner of Vida Cantina in Portsmouth, where the festival is held, and Evan Mallett, owner of Black Trumpet Bistro in Portsmouth. and Vargas also owns Ore Nell’s Barbecue on Badgers Island in Kittery, Maine.

Recalling last fall’s event in the parking lot of Vida Cantina, which had approximately 750 attendees, Vargas said an impassioned speech about the festival from event organizer Joanna Kelley, who is now Portsmouth’s assistant mayor and also owns Cup of Joe Café and Bar, was one of the day’s most memorable moments.

Children played games, music rang through the air, and a traditional Indonesian dance led to hundreds of people jumping on their feet in participation.

“It’s overwhelming and incredible at the same time,” Vargas said of the event. “It’s beautiful.”

When is the 2022 New England BIPOC Fest?

The New England BIPOC Fest, sponsored by Service Credit Union, will be held outside of Vida Cantina on Route 1 in Portsmouth on Sunday, Sept. 25 from noon to 6 p.m.

Admission to the event is free, though donations can be made upon entry.

What vendors, musical acts and organizations will be at the festival?

Kelley and Vargas are aiming to draw 1,000 people to this year’s event, which will feature a mariachi band, reggae artists, Zumba by Marienela, DJ Skooch, and the Seacoast West African Dance and Drum group, in addition to other cultural dances and rituals.

“Communities are made up of communities,” said Kelley, adding the intention of the New England BIPOC Festival is to showcase the people who make up the Seacoast, as well as now spotlighting different cultural groups across New England.

Area eateries and restaurants scheduled to serve food and beverages at the festival include Rose’s Spring Rolls, Sassy Biscuit, Habibi and Southern Girl Bakery.

Organizations slated to participate include the James Beard Foundation, Occupy New Hampshire, the Cowasuck Band of the Pennacook-Abenaki People, Black Lives Matter Seacoast, Indigenous New Hampshire and more.

“It’s going to be packed, it’s going to be fun,” Kelley said. “It’s a time to bring everyone together. It’s not exclusionary.”

Kelley: Most money raised given back to nonprofits

New England BIPOC Fest leaders have helped to raise $25,000 for the event this year, a large sum of which will be directed back into the festival’s participating vendors, acts and organizations.

Each restaurant and act appearing at the New England BIPOC Fest will be paid a stipend and participating nonprofits will receive donations from the festival’s leadership.

Kelley estimated 60% to 70% of money raised for the event is directed back to community groups and businesses. The donations and stipends distributed after last year’s event totaled about $8,000.

“The money that comes in goes back out to the community. It goes directly to the nonprofits on the ground,” Kelley said.

The festival’s leaders are looking to establish it as a 501©(3) organization and are looking ahead to the future of the festival, with their sights set on moving it to the Bridge Street parking lot off downtown Portsmouth next year.

Festival committee member Marie Collins, a PhD student at the University of New Hampshire, feels that food and art serve as a conduit in bringing members of communities together.

“I think it can be easy to fall into the trap of focusing on the divisive aspects of any community,” she said. “We want this celebration to be a reminder that diversity and variability are what give our community here on the Seacoast strength.”

Information: newenglandbipocfest.com

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