GOOMBAY
Matt | 5 September 2007What do you get when you mix Africa, The Caribbean and Asheville ? A three day festival called GOOMBAY.
What a wonderful mix of African/Caribbean culture, food and an array of eye catching fabrics and colors.
Not to mention traditional music, dance, arts & crafts, and my favorite ,shea butter.
My partner Moshe & I along with our close friends Katie & Chuck Sundmacher attended the festival and had a wonderful time. We sampled a variety of traditional foods such as fried plantains, curried goat, ox tail with vegetables, cool drinks, and a variety of ice cold beer. After the delicious food, we strolled through the many vendors, gazing at the different works of African art, clothing, hand rolled incense, shea butter and many other items too numerous to mention.
The festival is the third weekend of August, downtown Asheville in the refurbished area called ” The Block ” Once a vibrant part of Asheville, the area fell to the wayside over the years, and now is being re-vamped into a more cultural ” Hip ” spot in the City.
If you want to experience some culture away from the norm, plan on going to Goombay next year, Be sure to bring a lawn chair for the musical festivities in the evening, and a healthy appetite, because you will surely sample many of the delicious foods.
