Free Taste of Soul festival takes over Crenshaw in South LA

Dañiel Martinez has more.

Once a year Crenshaw Boulevard comes alive with music, food and celebration at the Taste of Soul Family Festival. What organizers bill as Southern California’s “largest free street festival,” now in its 21st year, takes over nearly three miles between Obama Boulevard and Stocker Street on Saturday, Oct.17.

Come on in, it’s free

A large crow fills Crenshaw Boulevard at the 2025 Taste of Soul event. Tents are seen lining the edges of the street.

Crowds fill Crenshaw Boulevard at Taste of Soul.

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E. Mesiyah McGinnis

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Los Angeles Sentinel

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And “free” is the operative word.

“At Coachella, it’s $500 a ticket. At Taste of Soul, you come free,” said Pamela Bakewell with Bakewell Media, the festival’s organizer.

Danny J. Bakewell Sr. — chairman of the organization and Pamela’s brother — pitched the festival to then-L.A. Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa.

“He went to him and said, ‘Look, if they can do these things in New Orleans, then why can’t we do it in Los Angeles?’”

A woman stands next to a man and they pose for a picture. The woman wears a green tank top and hoop earrings. To her right the man wears a black button up shirt and sunglasses, he flashes a peace sign to the camera.

Tiffany Haddish with Danny J. Bakewell Sr. at Taste of Soul 2025.

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Ian Foxx

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Los Angeles Sentinel

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That first festival in 2005 drew about 25,000 people, according to organizers. Now, some 350,000 people attend every year.

A world of vendors

Organizers say the festival has become an economic boost for small businesses in Southern California, featuring over 100 food vendors of serving a variety of cuisines.

A food vendor cooks some sort of kebab on a large grill. He wears an apron, with a white shirt underneath. He uses tongs to flip over the kebab. Behind him a man can be seen stirring a large pot with a ladle.

A food vendor cooks at Taste of Soul 2018.

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Trarell Torrence

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Los Angeles Sentinel

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“It’s the biggest event that I do all year,” said Brian McMillan, owner of The Kobbler King in South L.A. “People place orders after the event. They taste the cobbler;  it sets us up for Thanksgiving.”

McMillan has been a vendor at Taste of Soul for 20 years.

A man sings with a microphone in his hand, the mic stand is held in his other hand. He wears a blue Dodgers button up shirt. A wide brimmed black hat with a feather in the cap, and white pants.

Montell Jordan performs on the KJLH Music Stage at Taste of Soul 2025.

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Malcolm Ali

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Los Angeles Sentinel

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“You got food from all over. I have a friend from East Africa; his food is some of the best food I’ve ever had, and it’s extremely healthy,” McMillan said.

And plenty more to see

People sit at a medical booth that says "Watts Healthcare Adult". A person standing behind the booth wears all black and helps one person sitting down. Several others behind the booth are walking.

Visitors and staff at the Watts Healthcare tent during Taste of Soul 2025.

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Ian Foxx

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Los Angeles Sentinel

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McMillan said he relishes seeing different generations of neighbors and customers come by to say hello and get some cobbler.

“It’s like a family reunion, and I think that’s very important because you don’t see that with too many festivals at all.”

Taste of Soul Family Festival

When: Saturday, Oct. 17 from 10 to 7 p.m.Cost: Free Where: Crenshaw Boulevard between Obama Boulevard and Stocker Street
Highlights:The event kicks off at 10 a.m. with a parade featuring marching bands from Dorsey and Crenshaw high schools and a drill team from a local church. Live performances from gospel to soul and featuring musicians curated by Inglewood radio station KJLHFree health services and screenings including for blood pressure, mammograms and dental and eye exams.