International Food Festival returns to Clayton Organizers are once again hard at work preparing for the 2009 International Food Festival scheduled for September 26th at St Ann Catholic Church grounds on Hwy 70 Business between Clayton and Smithfield.

From logistics to menus, months of planning that started back in March this year will culminate with a food festival that will feature food venues with menu selections from fifteen countries around the world.

Joe Boivin, chairman of the Festival, is quite energized over last year’s event that surpassed everyone’s expectations with over 2,000 people attending the festival.

“Clearly we want to use the same formula as last year and recreate another great day of family enjoyment and community fellowship. Fantastic foods, live entertainment and free admission ….it’s hard not to like that combination!” Joe stated “After many successful Fall Festivals held at St. Ann’s, we moved in a new direction last year and the community came out in droves to enjoy a fabulous day of eating and listening to live music. The fact that Johnston County has been blessed by an influx of new citizens who bring their cultures and history here helps to shape this event. It’s a real opportunity to celebrate this diversity.”

Festival organizers have indicated “Where else can you go in our area and find authentic gyros from Greece, pirogues from Poland, tostadas from Mexico, parmigiana di melanzane from Italy and Shepherd’s Pie from Ireland. It will be a quick and easy trip around the globe without leaving the comfort of Johnston County.”

This year’s International Food Festival will feature foods from the USA, Thailand, Philippines, Mexico, Colombia, Poland, Italy, Dominican Republic, Greece, El Salvador, Ireland, Honduras, Hungary, Cajun as well as last year’s most popular food venue, “International Desserts.”

There will be live entertainment and games for the kids throughout the day. Among the many entertainers will be Mariachi band “Amanecer Tapatio” playing and strolling throughout the festival, Barrowburn Celtic Band, the Filipino dance troupe Phil-Am, the Honduran Drummer group Lubuyubo, Carolina Gospel and Bluegrass band, Salsa and Samba dancers and much more.

Once again, the banners and flags will flutter outside each nation’s food venue making choosing food easy. A free guide map of the festival grounds will be handed out as visitors enter which will list all the food menus, the events of the day as well as the entertainment schedule.

Many “café tents” with tables and chairs will be located throughout the festival to provide a relaxing place to enjoy the fabulous food and to get out of the sun.

The Festival’s organizers have said “All of our work comes together on September 26th, 2009 at St Ann’s Church grounds and we invite everyone who enjoys great food and live entertainment to come out and share a great day of fun and fellowship.”

The event is open to the public from 11:30 am to 6:30 pm with free admission and plenty of free parking. For more information go to their website at www.internationalfoodfestival.net