The Jewish Food Festival is adding Caribbean music with a Jewish flair, a public mural painting project and games for adults when it returns to Nay Aug Park in Scranton June 28 to July 1.
The Jewish Discovery Center, a Chabad institution in Clarks Summit, draws several thousand people a year from a wide area for kosher food and events open to all. This will be the 13th festival.
“We want to try to do what we can, to help remind people that we’re all brothers and sisters,” said Rabbi Benny Rapoport. “And we’re all children of the same creator of heaven, and we have to bring peace by doing good and looking out for each other. We can do more together than apart.”
The standard hours of 11:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. will be extended on Monday, June 29, for the new Sunset at the Fest featuring a live jam with Caleiv Jean. The New York musician is a Jewish convert with a Haitian background “who started writing this island-like music with meaning and purpose,” Rapoport said. Sunset at the Fest hours are from 6 to 8 p.m.
Caleiv Jean will perform at the Jewish Food Festival (COURTESY OF CALEIV JEAN)
Tirsa Rothman braids challah at the Jewish Food Festival at Nay Aug Park in Scranton on Monday, June 30, 2025. (REBECCA PARTICKA/STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER)
Kufta kabobs at the Jewish Food Festival at Nay Aug Park in Scranton on Monday, June 30, 2025. The plate comes with four ground beef kabobs and yellow rice. (REBECCA PARTICKA/STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER)
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Caleiv Jean will perform at the Jewish Food Festival (COURTESY OF CALEIV JEAN)
“We have a great vibe planned, with lights, live music, a special slider menu, smoothie bar, just a fun vibe,” he said. The backyard style games for adults will include cornhole, axe throwing and golf chipping.
Some of the specialties on sale throughout the festival will include knish, brisket, babka, shawarma, schnitzel, ribs, pastrami, falafel and stuffed cabbage, with a different special each day. The website calls it “food that survived centuries for a reason.”
The theme of the 3D mural will be shalom, or peace, and a site will be chosen for temporary display after it is complete. All ages can take part in painting between 3 and 6 p.m. daily. At the same times, bakers will demonstrate the art of braiding challah, a kind of bread.
Kids Fest is Tuesday, June 30 from 3 to 6 p.m. There will be pony rides, face painting, a petting zoo and other activities.
There will be activities alongside the food for the entire festival, including inflatable play structures.
The festival website is jewishfoodfest.com. http://jewishfoodfest.com. Secret menu items, available to only those who know what to ask for, will be announced on social media.
Rapoport encourages businesses, institutions, or individuals interested in supporting the event and promoting their brand to reach out.