Chicago Fil-Ams get set for Adobofest community bash

FAN PHOTO

CHICAGO, Illinois – The largest annual Filipino-American community picnic, adobo taste-off, exhibits and music festival returns for the seventh year at Northwest Side’s  Labagh Woods on Saturday, September 27, “rain or shine.”

Adobofest will held from 11:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. in Grove #1 at LaBagh Woods, located at Cicero and Foster in Chicago (grove entrance is 200 feet north of Foster, turn left after you cross the Eden’s overpass),” the Filipino American Network (FAN) announced.

For $10, attendees will be able to taste and vote for the “People’s Choice” among an expected 30 adobo entries.

The top 5 vote getters in this category will become “Best Tasting Adobo” finalists. These five entries will be commented and voted on live, on stage, by a panel of judges made up of Chicago’s top Filipino chefs, restaurateurs and food bloggers.

All contestants will receive a $20 Target Gift Card to help cover their expenses. Winners of both categories will go home with trophies and other soon-to-be-announced prizes.

Adobofest showcases Philippine children’s games, cultural dances, band performances, various artists, martial arts demonstrations, the fourth annual “Pandesal Eating Contest” for adults and “Polvoron Whistling” contest for youngsters, as well as other activities for the whole family.

Also returning this year will be free health screenings offered to all attendees by University of the Philippines Nurses Alumni Association of the Midwest (UPNAAM).

New this year, AFIRE, the (Alliance of Filipinos for Immigrant Rights and Empowerment) will hold its 5K Walk fundraiser at LaBagh Woods in the morning and its 3rd Annual Fil- Am voter registration and education, “Rock the Balut!” through the “art of eating balut” contest.

“The goal of this Walk around the woods is to raise awareness of physical activity as a part of one’s overall health condition,” said Jerry Clarito, executive director of AFIRE Chicago.

“We are expanding the meaning of ‘Rock the Balut!’ slogan to promote health as well as civic participation through citizenship, voter registration, and voting,” Clarito added.

The Rock the Balut! Walk will begin at 8:30-9:00 a.m. with registration and Zumba dance exercise. Participants are asked to donate a $20 registration fee, to get a T-shirt. Afterward, the Walk around the woods will start at 9:00 a.m. Once the walk is over, the participants will be asked to join the Adobofest celebration at 11:00 a.m.

The number of entrants to this year’s adobo taste-off will be limited to the first 30 applicants. For entries to the Adobo Taste-Off competition, to volunteer or be a sponsor of Adobofest, please contact Edgar Jimenez at [email protected] or call 773-236-2614.