HOUSTON – Houston is getting a late-night celebration of cuisine, culture and community on March 14 with the 4th annual Texas Suhoor Fest, an event centered around suhoor — the pre-dawn meal Muslims eat before beginning the daily fast during Ramadan.
CEO and festival organizer Faraz Ahmed joined KPRC 2 News in-studio Saturday morning to talk about tonight’s festivities.
The festival was created to highlight the spirit of Ramadan beyond fasting: gathering with family and friends, sharing food and strengthening community ties.
“The Texas Suhoor Festival is an event that celebrates community, celebrates the wider Texas Muslim community, and highlights locally Muslim-owned businesses throughout the state of Texas,” Ahmed said.
The event features more than 200 vendors, offering everything from flavorful dishes and desserts to cultural items and small-business shopping — turning a traditional Ramadan moment into a welcoming community experience.
Organizers say the idea grew from a desire to create a space where people could come together late at night during Ramadan, whether they’re observing the month or simply curious to learn more.
“The inspiration behind the Texas Suhoor Fest has been to gather the community together during this holy month of Ramadan and during this festive month of Ramadan for nearly two billion Muslims all around the world,” Ahmed said.
Organizers also note that bringing the festival to Houston reflects the city’s diverse communities and its appetite for food-forward events that celebrate culture.
“We are very proud Muslims, but we are also very proud Texans. That’s why our slogan for the Texas Suhoor Festival is ‘Salam and Howdy’ because salam means ‘peace be upon you’ — that’s how we greet people in Islam — and then also howdy is how we say hi to someone in Texas," Ahmed said.
Free to attend, RSVP requested
While the Texas Suhoor Fest is free, attendees are asked to RSVP in advance to help organizers plan for crowds and vendor capacity.
The Texas Suhoor Fest starts on March 14 at 10 p.m. and runs through March 15 at 5 a.m. It is located at A Golden Tree Banquet hall, 9151 S Texas 6, Houston, TX 77083.