International Food Fest organizer excited for eventDate: 5/6/2016 WEST SPRINGFIELD – With the International Food Fest just a few weeks away, promoter Thomas Kielbania Jr. said he pleased with how his initial event at the Eastern States Exposition grounds is shaping up.
“It’s a tremendous amount of work, but I feel great about it,” he told Reminder Publications.
Kielbania is the man who brought back Chicopee Kielbasa Fest for two years and decided he needed to find a new venue. He has expanded his event and it will now features 40 food vendors, 100 other vendors, a carnival, nightly fireworks and music provided by more than 50 bands.
The doors open at 4 p.m. on May 26 and conclude on May 30.
Some of the event will be outside, while some inside Kielbania said.
Music is a major theme of the festival with Latin, polka, Italian and Irish music performed every day, he said. Several headline acts include a Ray of Elvis, Trailer Trash and a Beatles tribute, he added.
One of the acts he is most excited to present is The Legends Live On! which will be performing May 28 at 8 p.m. The band is composed Gregg Allman’s son Michael Allman, Ray Charles’ daughter Sheila Raye Charles and BB King’s daughter Claudette King on vocals. Grammy Award winning saxophonist Charles Neville on the saxophone, and blues artist Jeff Pitchell on guitar are also part of the group.
“It’s a cool act. They’re really good,” Kielbania said.
Kielbania said he wanted to make an event that is affordable for families Admission is $10 for adults, seniors aged 63, students with valid identification are $5 and older at $3 and children under the age of 12 are free. Members of the military and police and fire services are free with identification.
Kielbania said his long-term goal is to make the festival the spring event for the Big E and the second largest event the organization hosts.
For a daily schedule of the festival, go to KFestFoodFest.com.
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