Discover How Small Businesses Are Serving Up Soul-Fulfilling Delights at the Unforgettable Juneteenth Freedom Fest!

A Celebration of Black Culture at the Cleveland Freedom Festival

Every year in Cleveland, Black culture takes center stage at the annual Freedom Festival. This two-day celebration, held on June 16 and 17 at Mall C, is expected to attract thousands of people who are eager to immerse themselves in music, arts, and delicious food. With a lineup of exciting activities and a vibrant atmosphere, the Freedom Festival promises to be a memorable event for all who attend.

Experience the Cleveland Juneteenth Freedom Fest

The Cleveland Juneteenth Freedom Fest kicks off on June 16 from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. and continues on June 17 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. at Mall C. Visitors can look forward to a diverse range of entertainment, including live music performances, art showcases, and a variety of vendors offering unique products. One highlight of the festival is the “Soul Food Row,” where attendees can indulge in mouthwatering dishes that celebrate the rich culinary traditions of the Black community.

Mac Attack: A Delicious Delight

Among the vendors at the Freedom Festival, Mac Attack stands out as a must-visit spot. Famed for their handmade macaroni and cheese, Mac Attack offers a delectable twist on a classic comfort food. Alia Edwards, the mastermind behind Mac Attack, has perfected a recipe that has been passed down for generations. By combining high-quality ingredients and a secret blend of seasonings, Edwards creates a mac and cheese experience that is truly unforgettable.

Each batch of macaroni and cheese from Mac Attack is carefully crafted with love and attention to detail. Edwards follows a meticulous process, mixing everything by hand to ensure optimal flavor and texture. The mixture is then poured into a saucepan and baked in an oven for about an hour, resulting in a flan-like consistency that melts in your mouth.

The Journey of Mac Attack: From Fire to Food Truck

Mac Attack may be a popular vendor at the Freedom Festival now, but its journey hasn’t been without its challenges. In their first year of business, a kitchen fire caused setbacks and delays. Despite these initial obstacles, Edwards persevered, and once they made their first sale, the passion and dedication to their craft only grew stronger. Mac Attack has since become a beloved name in the culinary scene, delivering unforgettable macaroni and cheese experiences to food enthusiasts.

Support from Family and a Flair for Flavor

Running a successful business requires more than just culinary skills, and Edwards acknowledges the crucial role their family plays in making Mac Attack a success. Edwards’s husband takes charge of setting up the booth at events, allowing Edwards to focus on cooking up their signature mac and cheese. Their 7-year-old son, an avid taste tester, adds an extra layer of excitement to their culinary journey.

Expanding the Reach of Mac Attack

While the Freedom Festival offers a temporary haven for mac and cheese lovers, Edwards has further plans to make Mac Attack more accessible. They have partnered with select retailers to offer their delicious creations beyond the festival season, with hopes for expansion in the future. Whether it’s at the festival or through their retail partnerships, Mac Attack brings joy to people’s taste buds with every bite.

Summary:

The Cleveland Freedom Festival is an annual celebration of Black culture, held at Mall C in downtown Cleveland. This two-day event features live music, art showcases, and a diverse range of vendors. One standout vendor is Mac Attack, known for their handmade macaroni and cheese that offers the ultimate comfort food experience. Despite facing initial challenges, Mac Attack has become a beloved name in the culinary scene and continues to expand its reach. With the support of their family and the passion for creating unforgettable dishes, Alia Edwards, the mastermind behind Mac Attack, is making waves in the food industry. Whether it’s at the Cleveland Freedom Festival or through their retail partnerships, Mac Attack delights mac and cheese enthusiasts with their mouthwatering creations.

The event features music, art and vendors at Mall C in downtown Cleveland, including a “Soul Food Row” where Alia Edwards plans to set up shop.

“It’s soul food, and it’s soul food,” he said.

Edwards uses a recipe perfected since he was 12 years old to turn macaroni and cheese and other toppings into what could be the ultimate comfort food.

“Salt and pepper until you hear the ancestors say, ‘That’s enough,’” he said.

She mixes everything with her hands.

“This is the best way to make sure everything is mixed well without compromising the quality of the noodles,” Edwards said.

Pour the mixture into a saucepan to create a mac attack. It is baked in an oven for about an hour to create a flan-like consistency.

He started the business last year and his first event was memorable.

“It was crazy,” he said. “The kitchen caught fire, he was late for our first event with half the product.”

But once he made a sale, he was sold on the idea.

“It’s been there ever since,” Edwards said.

She has a different full-time job.

“And I have a 7-year-old son and a husband,” she said. “That is my second job. And this is my third job, making macaroni and cheese.”

But the business melted down instead. In the first year he estimated that he would make about a thousand pounds of pasta to sell.

The support of his family helps make it all happen. Her husband sets up the booth at events.

“I just cook,” she said. “He does all the physical work.”

And he said his son is an avid taste tester.

“’Mom, are you going to make macaroni and cheese this weekend?’” Edwards said. “If it’s not food truck season, he’s always up for mac and cheese.”

At events, Edwards offers fresh toppings like sour cream, chives, bacon, and jalapenos to spice things up.

“Once your first customer takes the first bite and is excited, or comes back and says ‘This is the best mac and cheese I’ve ever had,’ it makes it all worth it,” he said.

Cleveland Juneteenth Freedom Fest takes place from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. Friday with a fireworks finale and is open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday at Mall C in downtown Cleveland.

Mac Attack is also available to buy at select retailers, with more plans for this fall.