Patch: Largest And Most Impressive Pre-Ramadan Iftar Bazaar In The Chicago Suburb Of Rosemont
Iftar Bazaar (Syed Khalil Ullah)
By Syed Khalil Ullah | Patch
The Annual Iftar Bazaar's which took place at the Donald Stephens Convention Center in Rosemont on Saturday, January 31, 2026. The celebration of resiliency, culture, faith, and the economic strength of collective communities is emphasized.
The event was planned and hosted by Chi Town Chicago.
The event's emcee, Arjumand Hashmi Khan, thanked Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson for supporting local companies and Business particularly those owned by Muslims and immigrants, and for investing in immigrant communities. She also thanked Saima Quadri of Chi Town Desi and Nabila Ali, the two ladies who came up with the idea for the bazaar.
The Council of Islamic Organizations Chairman, Dr. Abdul Ghani Hammadi, discussed how the occasion will help Muslim communities get ready for Ramadan. He emphasized the council's backing of companies run by Muslims, immigrants, and women.
Nabila Syed, the 51st District State Representative, highlighted the greatness of the Muslim community in Chicagoland, especially its entrepreneurs, designers, and vital workers, while sharing her personal narrative as the first Muslim woman elected to her office.
Salman Mohi Uddin from Zakat Chicago emphasized the prophetic tradition that "the best of people are those who provide the most benefit to others" and stressed the significance of charitable organizations.
Ahmad Rehab from CAIR Chicago addressed the resurgence of Islamophobia as a diversion from more serious problems and emphasized the significance of combating darkness, hate, and evil with light and love.
Mayor of Chicago Brandon Johnson was presented as the "man of the hour" and given an award for helping small businesses grow. He highlighted Chicago's foundation on the cuisine, culture, and heritage of its immigrant populations, praising the woman-led event as the result of a goal to revive trade practices and promote economic progress.
The Donald Stephens Convention Center was decorated with colors full of draperies and crescent-moon decorations as families and attendees strolled from vendor to vendor, tasting cuisine, perusing handcrafted items, and getting ready for the holy month of Ramadan.
The Iftar Bazaar was a day-long pre-Ramadan event that included food, shopping, and community programming and many others activities
Event drew over 10,000 visitors from all over from Chicagoland on Saturday. From noon to 11 p.m., Chi Town Desi and Muslim Ladies of Chicagoland organized the women-led event, which included foreign cuisine, cultural acts, international fashion, gifts, and wellness services. At the iftar bazaar, Mayor Brandon Johnson took part in a ribbon-cutting ceremony.
Bazaar Offered a variety of goods and services, over 130 vendors took part. Guests and Attendees perused traditional clothing, jewelry, and accessories in addition to cuisine. Additionally, vendors offered wood decorations, handmade candles, Islamic books and other items.
The bazaar served as a hub for services in addition to trade. Participants got free henna tattoos in their hands enrolled in a guided painting lesson, take part in Ramadan tablescape workshops, and sign up for Muslim matching services. As a reflection of the various ways families get ready for the holy month, wellness offerings were placed next to gifts.
Another area of focused for the organizers was youth entrepreneurship. Participants between the ages of 14 and 23 competed for free business mentoring and coaching from Pure Radiance, a business development organization, in the Young Entrepreneurs Zone.
Many sellers used their booth kitchens to produce fresh Jalebis Samosa, cakes, and pastries. At the bazaar, they served cake pops, cookies, and cinnamon rolls. Vendors didn't view the event as a competition, even though they were thrilled to be around other young business owners.
Saima Siddiqui stated, "We hosted here more to provide something different for the community and see what everybody else was making."
Children watched Islamic performances and hear children's writers read their books in the "Lil Habibis" area. For an hour, parents leaved their children to explore the bazaar.
Organizer Saima Quadri remarked, "It's very heart touching that everyone is just coming together as one big team." "There is something for everyone, no matter what it is."