Soulfeast Week enters sixth year with statewide expansion, new venues

LEXINGTON, Ky. (WKYT) - Soulfeast Week, the 10-day celebration of culinary and agriculture placing the Juneteenth holiday at its center, is entering its sixth year with new venues, a historical marker dedication and an expansion beyond Central Kentucky.

The event, which in the past highlighted Central Kentucky Black-owned restaurants, is now spotlighting Black-owned restaurants statewide.

Soulfeast Week starts June 18. Venues include The Melroy on Broadway, The Vine Lexington, Greyline Station and Gatton Park, where Soulteenth takes place on June 20.

This year a marker will be dedicated honoring the life of R.C.O. Benjamin. He was shot and killed in the Gatton Park area in 1900 for trying to get Black men registered to vote.

“It’s still a free Juneteenth festival. We want to make sure and honor the history the way it needs to be,” said Martina Barksdale, co-founder of Soulfeast Week.

Economic impact and community support

Barksdale said the goal of Soulfeast Week is to support the community and have a huge economic impact.

“A lot of time summer is slow for our hospitality businesses, so we want people to pour their dollars as well as celebrating their cultural relevance of the Juneteenth holiday,” Barksdale said.

Cooking and spirit demonstrations, food trucks, family fun and entertainment will be on hand again this year. But there will be something new.

“This year is our first ever — we are introducing our spirit row. It hasn’t dropped yet, but we will be able to buy a ticket and taste some of these Black-owned brands,” Barksdale said.

Hollywood actors want a taste. Inside Greyline Station, visitors can find Sable Bourbon, partly owned by Hollywood actors Morris Chestnut and Taye Diggs. Barksdale said local Black-owned spirit brands are growing as well.

“So a lot of times they are right under your nose and you just don’t know it,” Barksdale said.

After Soulfeast Week comes Black Restaurant Week from June 22 through June 28. New this year: it’s statewide. Participating restaurants will display an off-menu entree with one ingredient sourced through a Black-owned farm.

“It’s pouring money back into the community and into people’s pockets directly, then we have a win. I mean to date we directly have spent over $300,000 with Black and brown businesses here in Central Kentucky,” Barksdale said.