Feast Street dishing up affordable food and fun

Thirty-five food vendors, entertainment and community — that’s what is on the menu this weekend in downtown Welland for the inaugural Feast Street Niagara.

Lucas Spinosa, chairman for the event, said the food festival has been in the making for more than a year and has really taken shape in the past several months.

He said the committee, which includes partners from Welland’s Downtown BIA and the Welland Float Fest committee, wanted to bring in the best in the area for food and really hone in on having a foodcentric event, like Niagara Food Festival was before it served its last meal last year.

“We want this to be Welland’s party,” Spinosa said of the event, adding that people have been “really hungry for this event.” Pun intended.

He said in some ways it pays homage to the Niagara Food Festival, but is also its own thing.

While there are other activities going on, such as a kids zone with games, and live entertainment from local artists, the focus is really on the food.

Each of the food vendors has a $3 taster, which Spinsoa sees as incredibly affordable because if someone wanted to buy a sampler from each vendor, it would amount to $105. He said at some events, $105 would only get a person maybe a few items.

On Sunday, some fun will be happening in the way of a Pizza Wars competition starting at noon, a performance by Dance Place Welland and a multicultural parade by CEED.

Keeping the event affordable, accessible and fun are key components that went into planning.

Being eco-friendly is important, too; Spinosa said Niagara Region will be on site with an eco-station to help sort waste and make sure it gets discarded appropriately.

Alcohol and other drinks are available, along with free water courtesy of H2Only.

Feast Street takes place on East Main Street Saturday and Sunday. A section of the street between Hellems and King streets will be closed to traffic.

Festivities begin Saturday at noon and run until 11 p.m. before starting up again on Sunday, running noon to 6 p.m.

More information about what’s happening at Feast Street Niagara com or on Facebook. is available at feaststreetniagara.

LAURA BARTON/POSTMEDIA NEWS Lucas Spinosa, chairman of Feast Street Niagara, holds a sign about the event happening this weekend in downtown Welland. It will feature 35 food vendors on East Main Street, shutting part of it down, but access to the bridge, on which he stands in...